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Many vendors have been rumored to be preparing bids for Indian spectrum, and Qualcomm is the latest to join the list. The 3G licenses - whose auction should begin, barring further delays, next month - are likely to go to the existing major cellcos. But the ensuing 2.3GHz auction for broadband wireless licenses is a more open field. Large players want these frequencies too, but have been discussing franchise agreements and joint ventures, involving foreign partners.

Intel and Google were among the internet players rumored to be interested in such deals last year. They then said they would not make direct bids, though given that the most likely technology to go into 2.3GHz is WiMAX, Intel might well have involvement in some of the deployments. Any move by Qualcomm might also bring Intel more directly into the ring again, since the former firm would presumably favor pushing LTE rather than WiMAX into the band.

Both chip giants have track records of acquiring spectrum - outright or via partners - to encourage uptake of their favored technologies. Qualcomm has done this in the past in the 450MHz band, through its former Inquam venture, and in US and UK mobile TV spectrum, among others. Intel has backed several partners in acquiring WiMAX spectrum in countries like Sweden, Japan and the UK, as well as investing in operators like Clearwire.

In India, whose market potential for wireless broadband - for fixed and mobile purposes - is huge, the stakes would be high. It has been assumed that the tight timelines for improving broadband coverage would make WiMAX the only choice for 2.3GHz, since equipment is already available and prices are falling. LTE would then only get a look-in once further auctions are held, notably in digital dividend bands. Despite some statements from Indian authorities that these transactions would follow "quickly" after the current sales, other government members moved to dampen that speculation earlier this week. And India's record in spectrum decisions suggests that "quickly" could actually mean two or more years until there is a chance for LTE suppliers.

This would be Qualcomm's motivation for taking part, suggests a report in The Hindu Business Line. As in the delayed UK auction of 2.6GHz spectrum, the longer India waits for licenses to be awarded, the more viable it becomes for LTE to get into the band, especially for fixed/nomadic purposes that do not require handsets. Citing industry sources, the newspaper said Qualcomm has already approached several Indian operators about forming a bidding consortium (Indian law would not allow a foreign bidder to act alone). One of the carriers, unidentified, confirmed to the paper that a high level team from San Diego was in Mumbai to negotiate details, though Qualcomm itself refused to comment.

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