Qualcomm has won the BWA (Broadband Wireless Access) – unpaired spectrum in the 2.3 GHz band, in four telecom circles in India. Among the 11 bidders participating in the BWA auction, Qualcomm has provisionally won a 20 MHz slot of spectrum in the circles of Delhi, Mumbai, Haryana and Kerala.  Qualcomm’s final bid was Rs.4,912.54 crore (approximately $1.045 billion).
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“Qualcomm’s innovations helped trigger the wireless revolution in India by making mobile communications affordable and accessible,” said Dr. Paul E. Jacobs, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of Qualcomm.  “Along with our ecosystem partners, we are now poised to accelerate the mobile broadband revolution with 3G HSPA, EV-DO and LTE to the benefit of all Indians.”Â
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Kanwalinder Singh, President, Qualcomm India and South Asia, and Senior Vice-President, Qualcomm, said, “Our bidding objective was to secure an enabling role in the continued success of Indian operators with 3G and beyond.  With its ecosystem partners, Qualcomm will now foster the deployment of LTE, so Indian consumers can enjoy the benefits of 3G now and 3G plus LTE in the future.”Â
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In compliance with the applicable Indian FDI regulations, Qualcomm will soon announce its Indian partners. In concert with 3G networks and devices, the company and its partners will work towards demonstrating LTE technology with the goal of creating LTE infrastructure and device ecosystem. Qualcomm’s goal is to attract one or more experienced 3G HSPA and/or EVDO operator partners into the venture for construction of an LTE network in compliance with the Indian Government’s rollout requirement for the BWA spectrum, and then to exit the venture
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