The Hindu Business Line : IDC sees fall in number of WLL subscribers

INTERNATIONAL Data Corporation (IDC), an information technology and communication market research firm, expects the number of WLL subscribers in India to decline to 4.2 million in 2008, substantially lower than that in 2003.

IDC says it expects the fall in view of the ratification of the unified licensing regime, which "essentially converts most of the CDMA WLL subscribers to full mobility services with roaming capabilities."

"Subsequent growth will come from the limited corDect WLL base and the remaining WLL CDMA subscribers on fixed terminals. With these licensing changes, the WLL subscriber base in India is slated to fall to 4.2 million in 2008, which is actually substantially lower than its 2003 WLL subscriber base... ," IDC said in its latest study, `Impact of Wireless Local Loop Technologies on Telecom Network Services.'

IDC is of the view that WLL in India will take a different form. The remaining corDect base and fixed terminal CDMA base still have potential in the rural areas, where today's basic telephony is still very much lacking, and the motivation to build copper to these areas have been superseded by pragmatism and cost effectiveness of WLL.

Reliance Infocomm and Tata Indicom as well as public sector, Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL) and Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) offer WLL services in the country.

IDC estimates that Reliance Infocomm had over four million subscribers by December 2003.

"With the new Unified Licensing regime taking effect, Reliance is converting its subscribers to full mobility services, propelling it literally overnight to be the fourth largest mobile service provider in India after Bharti, BSNL and Hutchison," IDC said.