But, the launching of 3G or 4G services depends on lot of other factors than just cost saving through Spectrum. So, the operators will make use of this only if they find a good business case.

Good Article btw .

As stated in the article it provides better coverage, it is an attractive solution for rural areas. It offers better indoor penetration hence it is possible solution also in metropolitan areas (to be balanced with capacity issues). It enhances cost-competitiveness of WCDMA/HSPA compared with alternative technologies working at lower frequencies than current WCDMA bands.
It leverages current investments in base station sites, core networks and common network management with existing network.

In north and latin America the 850 MHz WCDMA already in operation, no regulatory restrictions for usege. WCDMA 900 MHz allowed in New Zealand, Australia and Indonesia, WCDMA 850 MHz allowed in Australia. In the India too hopefully it will be allowed.

By the way nice article Mohit.

Regards,
Jignesh

The primary reason is not that, in isolation, this does not make sense in terms of ability to meet rising bandwidth and multi-service demands but that a transition to 3G at a time when the industry is starting to shift to NG==>4G technology framework is short-sighted and less promising.

The LTE and recalcitrant WiMAX developments are positioned to provide a way forward to multi-carrier IP operation of networks that is longer-term, more inclusive, and more productive.

3G is far from being a dead-end for many operators not exposed to the most demanding or promising use of spectrum. However, it is not the way forward to re-farm spectrum.

I have advocated, first within the WiMAX effort, (pre-LTE) and as the way forward for 3GPP the direction taken up by ITU for IMT-Advanced. The technology has progressed quickly such that Telenor/Tele2, AT&T and others have become strong advocates and have announced multi-carrier LTE deployments starting in 2011.

I believe that this factor spells the nail in the coffin climax for any hope that WiMAX will become universally adopted as 4G except as Greenfield and overlay networks. The history of the development of multi-carrier, particularly of sub 1GHz combined with >2GHz spectrum, will provide a lesson in how a challenger to the mainstream mobile industry could ignore the broader implications of network designs set in the context of evolving markets.

While some operators may adopt multiple carrier 3G, I believe the rapid entry of m-c LTE will convincingly sway the argument by extinguishing the incumbent marketplace advantage.