Indian group to set 4G wireless technology specs

By K.C. Krishnadas
iApplianceWeb
(07/12/02, 06:20:52 PM EDT)

BANGALORE, India - A new wireless technology group formed by India's Ministry of Information Technology will target fourth-generation wireless standards development and deployment, sources here said.

The Implementation Mission Group was formed based on the recommendations of a study funded by the ministry and overseen by a prominent Indian computer engineer and professor. The move marks one of the first times India has attempted to set technology standards for an emerging technology rather than waiting for international standards to emerge.

India has traditionally take a follow-the-leader approach to commercial technology development, but sources said the 4G effort is designed to change that approach.

Building a leadership position in 4G would involve the combined efforts of the Indian government's ministries of communications and information technology, leading government and educational institutes and laboratories, component and equipment manufacturers and service providers.

The plan is also based on India's track record for providing software services. Though not the same as developing technical standards, software development skills are seen here as an indicator of Indian technical prowess.

Drawing lessons from Europe's successful development of GSM technology, the proposed road map calls for grabbing a leading role in almost all facets of 4G technology, from standards to user terminals. The study recommended that the government make grants over three years totaling about $80 million to achieve the goals. The study also recommended that the government should only monitor and mentor the research activities rather than control them.

The plan is based on a study carried out by Vinay Deshpande, former president of the Manufacturers' Association for Information Technology and chairman of Encore Software Ltd, based here. The other author was H. S. Jamadagni, a professor at the Indian Institute of Science, also located here. Deshpande was part of the private sector team that designed India's first computers as well as the cheap handheld Simputer. Jamadagni is regarded as one India's foremost authorities on digital signal processing. He is chairman of the Center for Electronic Design and Technology at the science institute.

Sources said the new wireless standards group has already met several times to consider the 4G plan and give it shape. A previous meeting looked at whether mobile service providers would be interested in deploying the technology when it is developed. The meetings are a sign of progress, observers said, but the government has yet to decide whether it will fund the effort.

"It does look like the funding is being organized," an industry source said. "Another round or two of discussions are needed to figure out the precise steps to be taken, including whether there must be cooperation in this with other countries."