Motivated Report

Due to density of telephone demand in rural areas being low, it is uneconomical to provide large number of base stations requiring buildings, uninterrupted power supply and other infrastructure. DoT has rightly decided to specify the macro-cellular WLL systems for such applications. DoT's generic spec for WLL systems covers micro-cellular technology also for urban applications.

DoT's insistence on a macro-cellular system for rural and remote applications is fully justified from operational and maintenance point of view also, apart from the cost considerations.

There are a large number of vendors manufacturing macro-cellular WLL systems meeting the DoT's specifications. Besides, the three technologies mentioned in your report viz, CDMA, ETDMA and DCS-1800, macro-cellular systems deploying TDMA technology like DIVA-2000 WLL system of Diva Communications Inc, USA are also available in the market. Therefore, the allegations that the TEC is favouring some international vendors are motivated and without any valid basis.