US-based chipmaker Qualcomm is looking to launch broadband wireless access (BWA) services in India in the second half of next year, according to Kanwalinder Singh, president of Qualcomm India and South Asia, as cited by local reports.
The services would…
US-based chipmaker Qualcomm is looking to launch broadband wireless access (BWA) services in India in the second half of next year, according to Kanwalinder Singh, president of Qualcomm India and South Asia, as cited by local reports.
The services would be provided in partnership with one or more operators, Singh reportedly said.
He added however that the company is still looking to exit its broadband JV with Indian telco services provider Tulip Telecom once it has accelerated the eco-system on the device and the network side.
He reportedly added that an exit timeframe had yet to be set. In October, Qualcomm had confirmed it would sell its own stake in the Indian JV for about Rs50bn (US$1.1bn).
Having set up the wireless broadband venture, Qualcomm sold a 26% stake in it to local partners Tulip Telecom and Global Group in July to comply with FDI caps. At the time, Qualcomm said it planned to exit the venture after rolling out the network.
The company approached several large Indian mobile operators including Tata Communications and Reliance Communications to sell the licences in four of the country’s circles it acquired in June for about US$1bn. Cellcos Bharti Airtel and Aircel have already expressed interest in the business, according to local reports.
After the US company indicated its own wish to divest, Tulip Telecom said in late November that it too might also exit the JV. HS Bedi, the chairman and MD of Tulip Telecom, was quoted saying that the decision lies with majority partner Qualcomm.
