WiMAX to radically change the way India does things: Hung Song, global V-P of Samsung Corporation

The bids for BWA spectrum, which touched approximately Rs 13,000 crore, clearly showed the need for such technologies in India. WiMAX/BWA, the initial stage of 4G wireless technology, has the potential to lift and upgrade the way we function today. WiMAX or mobile broadband will pave the way for next-generation devices that would be data-centric with an emphasis on browsing and multimedia technologies.

This will, in turn, present a huge opportunity to develop software and mobile applications, opening up a whole new avenue for the young IT talent available here. Hung Song, global V-P of Samsung Corporation (telecom systems), was in Mumbai recently and spoke to Aaheli Bagchi of TOI about the future of mobile broadband and wireless technology.

How will India handle the huge shift from 2G to WiMAX or 4G technologies?

WiMAX will radically change the way India does things today. Data transfer, which comprises everything apart from voice and text messages, is a challenge in the 2G and 3G systems that we use today. But with WiMAX, it will be a lot faster and most certainly convenient. Imagine transferring images, video clips or presentations to other cell phones in an instant... it will be a whole new experience for the country. When it comes to adapting to the new system, the best example we see is Russia, where in spite of having 3G technology in place, implementation of 4G saw an addition of 400,000 subscribers within six months. 4G is like a Ferrari, once you get the taste of that why would you want to travel in an ordinary car? Therefore, we are looking forward to this change and are geared up to provide complete solutions like building base stations for network connectivity, smart phones to complement broadband technology and other services like technical designing.

Will such exorbitant bids for BWA/WiMAX put financial strain on the service providers? How will you manage to sell your services at a competitive price?

The companies here are business-savvy and definitely have a knack for spotting opportunities and they see a need for this technology here, which explains such high bids. With a population of over 1.2 billion, the sheer scale of customers will lead to a price advantage for WiMAX vendors. As the number of subscribers go up, the cost comes down. Apart from network services through WiMAX, firms will also be able to provide other services which will attract many advertisers to huge customer base.

What is the future of WiMAX in India?

The mobile broadband industry will provide a platform to young software developers to create applications for mobile phones. With 80% of the world revenues in IT coming from India, it will be a great place for WiMAX to set in.



What do you think the government foresees in WiMAX and other 4G technologies in India?

The Indian government has chalked out a very clear plan in terms of broadband technology. Education via wireless technology and mobile banking are the prime focus.

The government has a great vision which includes telecom operators as well as mobile companies to play a crucial role in the development of the country. The government here is trying to create value out of this service and reach out to as many people as they can. I recently read a survey which said that with every 10% broadband penetration 10%, there will be a 1.3% rise in GDP, which is spectacular. And why won’t India take an advantage of such a thing?