Qualcomm to launch LTE network in India by year-end

Qualcomm is looking to launch a 4G based service in India by the end of this year, as it nears signing a formal agreement with a local partner.

The company acquired a block of radio spectrum in last year’s 3G/BWA auctions and said at the time that it would deploy a network then look to sell its stake in the company.

Speaking to Business Line, Kanwalinder Singh, president, Qualcomm India and South Asia, said, “We had earlier announced a four-step strategy for our broadband venture – to invest in spectrum, accelerate the ecosystem, to introduce one or more operators as partners and eventually exit. We are at the third step and we are in talks with operators.”

The company’s local holding subsidiary is 74 per cent owned by Qualcomm – the maximum permitted by Indian law – while Global Holding and Tulip Telecom hold 13 percent each.

Qualcomm holds one slot of 20 MHz TDD spectrum in the 2.3 GHz band covering the key telecom circles of Delhi, Mumbai, Haryana and Kerala. Qualcomm has previously said that its objective is to facilitate the deployment of LTE in the 2.3 GHz band.

The company paid US$1.05 billion for the licences.