Broadband India Forum Slams Microsoft's Rural Broadband Plan

Strategic Insights -

The Broadband India Forum (BIF) has expressed concerns over Microsoft's plan to utilize unused television broadcast frequencies, or "white spaces," for delivering low-cost rural broadband connectivity to 5 lakh villages in India. BIF, which represents top mobile carriers including Bharti Airtel, Reliance Communications, and Vodafone, has urged the government to allocate such frequencies through an open auction, citing their excellent propagation characteristics.

Key Takeaways:

  • BIF urges the government to allocate TV UHF band frequencies through an open auction, citing excellent propagation characteristics.
  • The organization represents top mobile carriers including Bharti Airtel, Reliance Communications, and Vodafone.
  • BIF president TV Ramachandran dismissed Microsoft's TV white space technology, stating that there is "no genuine TV white space" in India, and that the airwaves in the relevant TV UHF band remain largely unutilized.
  • Microsoft has completed a successful pilot in Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh, and plans to create an economic model that allows affordable WiFi to be delivered successfully.
  • BIF feels that India cannot afford to "fritter away" the precious resource of idle spectrum in the TV UHF band.

Statistics:

  • 5 lakh villages in India are in need of low-cost rural broadband connectivity.
  • TV UHF band frequencies lie in the 470-698 MHz range, with excellent propagation characteristics.
  • Microsoft has completed a pilot in Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh.

Sources:

  • [1] Ettelecom, "BIF Slams Microsoft's Rural Broadband Plan", ETTelecom, [Source: TV Ramachandran, BIF President]
  • [2] Microsoft, "TV White Space Technology for Affordable Last Mile Connectivity"
  • [3] Department of Telecommunications, Government of India - No specific source mentioned, but general information on India's telecommunications landscape has been used.