DoT offers Qualcomm BWA licenses

The road for American wireless major Qualcomm to start its wireless business in India seems to be finally clear. Qualcomm informed CNBC-TV18 that the department of telecom (DoT) has offered it broadband wireless access (BWA) licences. Qualcomm received the telecom department's offer on October 10, 2011.

Qualcomm, which had paid over USD 1 billion for the BWA spectrum allocation last year, has been offered licences for all service areas it had won spectrum in.
Qualcomm had won spectrum for high speed BWA in four circles -- Delhi, Mumbai, Haryana and Kerala -- through auction done by DoT in June 2010, and paid Rs 4,912.54 crore (about USD 1 billion).
Qualcomm partnered with Indian firms Tulip Telecom and Global Holding Corporation in July 2010, to form a separate entity, Wireless Broadband Business Services (WBBS), to run BWA business.
Meanwhile the Telecom Secretary R Chandrashekhar said that his department granted an internet service provider licence to Qualcomm's subsidiary. He indicated that the nominee must be a licensee for award of an ISP licence, but the subsidiary company was not a licensee.
"The first request was in respect of the licence that has been taken up separately and considered on its own merit. A decision has been taken to issue the ISP licence to the company," he added Also watch the accompanying video for more...