NEW DELHI: State-owned telecom company Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd. (BSNL)
is open to allocating spectrum in the 2500 Mhz band for Google's
ambitious Project Loon technology that aims to offer connectivity via
helium-filled balloons floating on stratosphere.
Google's Loon pilot is aimed to showcase connectivity in India's rural and remote areas which lack telecom infrastructure, and has earlier sought a 5 Mhz block of radiowaves in the 700 Mhz band, which was however opposed by incumbent telecom operators.
"We are open to allow spectrum in the 2500 Mhz band for experimental purpose to Google and have a transparent pricing regime," BSNL chairman and managing director Anupam Shrivastava told ET.
BSNL is managing the entire project that includes selection of location, spectrum coordination and equipment assessment for the Google's Loon technology.
Google wants to create an aerial wireless network that could facilitate speed akin to high-speed 4G-LTE network.
The state-owned telco want to utilize its airwaves with private firms on a revenue sharing model, and it has 20 MHz BWA (broadband wireless access) spectrum in the 2.5 GHz band in 14 LSAs (licensed service areas) after surrendering in six circles and is strategic to its 4G plans.
"After sharing, we can easily spare 10 MHz for LTE-based 4G services over the 2500 Mhz band," the BSNL top executive added.
The state-driven company has had a few rounds of talks with the Google team earlier in which it had suggested that a pilot over the 2.5GHz spectrum was feasible.
The Department of Electronics and IT (DeitY) is coordinating the entire project, and a committee headed by secretary, Aruna Sharma is overseeing the program.
DeitY's official in-charge of the project however declined to speak to ET on the matter.
"We have had some initial discussions with Google. Selection of state is in the process currently which is expected to be finalized soon," telco's top official added.
The telecom PSU said that among other proposals, rural areas neighboring Bhopal and Chhindwara districts in Madhya Pradesh were being suggested to the US-based Internet giant, which however remains tentative as Google is yet to endorse.
Queries to Google did not elicit any response.
Dear readers, please share your views and opinions about these new attractive offers by BSNL via comments with us.
Google's Loon pilot is aimed to showcase connectivity in India's rural and remote areas which lack telecom infrastructure, and has earlier sought a 5 Mhz block of radiowaves in the 700 Mhz band, which was however opposed by incumbent telecom operators.
"We are open to allow spectrum in the 2500 Mhz band for experimental purpose to Google and have a transparent pricing regime," BSNL chairman and managing director Anupam Shrivastava told ET.
BSNL is managing the entire project that includes selection of location, spectrum coordination and equipment assessment for the Google's Loon technology.
Google wants to create an aerial wireless network that could facilitate speed akin to high-speed 4G-LTE network.
The state-owned telco want to utilize its airwaves with private firms on a revenue sharing model, and it has 20 MHz BWA (broadband wireless access) spectrum in the 2.5 GHz band in 14 LSAs (licensed service areas) after surrendering in six circles and is strategic to its 4G plans.
"After sharing, we can easily spare 10 MHz for LTE-based 4G services over the 2500 Mhz band," the BSNL top executive added.
The state-driven company has had a few rounds of talks with the Google team earlier in which it had suggested that a pilot over the 2.5GHz spectrum was feasible.
The Department of Electronics and IT (DeitY) is coordinating the entire project, and a committee headed by secretary, Aruna Sharma is overseeing the program.
DeitY's official in-charge of the project however declined to speak to ET on the matter.
"We have had some initial discussions with Google. Selection of state is in the process currently which is expected to be finalized soon," telco's top official added.
The telecom PSU said that among other proposals, rural areas neighboring Bhopal and Chhindwara districts in Madhya Pradesh were being suggested to the US-based Internet giant, which however remains tentative as Google is yet to endorse.
Queries to Google did not elicit any response.
Dear readers, please share your views and opinions about these new attractive offers by BSNL via comments with us.
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