The Revolution That Passed Us By

We’re
wired. Almost. Fiber across the country, some broadband, and even connectivity
between ISPs. Our last mile’s lousy, but improving…

And we’ve got a cellular network. Seven million users and growing–more
than the PC base, in one-fifth of the PC’s lifetime in India. Connectivity has
changed our work life.

And yet… I can’t connect when I’m mobile. I can’t use wireless data
in India. Not over GSM, nor WiFi, nor 802.11a.

While my laptop and palmtop talk to my phone over infra-red,
all I can do is beam SMS messages. On the go, I can’t really check my mail or
a Website (and don’t even talk to me about WAP on today’s circuit-switched
GSM). For, there’s no mobile data service.

Airtel’s so-called data service (with a whopping fee and
airtime) will work only in Delhi for me. Not in Mumbai. Not even in Bangalore,
Chennai or Shimla which have Airtel coverage. Now here’s a big surprise for
Airtel: I need mobile data when I’m mobile. When I’m travelling. I don’t
need slow and expensive mobile data at home or office. I already have a cheap,
wired connection there.

If wide-area wireless data never happened in India, wireless
LAN didn’t either. India has zero WLAN usage, helped by controls on wireless
use (there’s even a special WLAN ‘demo’ license). While, around the world’s
airports and coffee shops, an 802.11 card in my notebook gives me broadband
Internet access. Singapore airport even lends me a free WiFi card.

Yes, WLAN is still a mess. WiFi (802.11b) runs on three
2.4GHz channels, unregulated in the West, but licensed in India (and also used
by cordless phones, microwave ovens and even Bluetooth products). The corporate
version, 802.11a, is five times faster than WiFi’s 11 Mbps, but not
compatible. 802.11g is secure, but it’s not a standard yet…

Still, the world’s going WiFi fast. In some US city blocks,
I’ve even found it ‘leaking’ from homes and offices–free Net access if
you’re equipped! And US companies like WiFi Metro and Sprint PCS will allow
WiFi users who step out of their range, to auto-switch to cellular carriers like
Verizon who give Internet access.

This wireless data revolution passed India by. Pity, for
wireless is great for places where the last-mile links are so pathetic. Take IIT-Madras’
CorDECT, using WLL to power remote PC booths. Or a Media Labs project (not in
India) that uses WiFi vans for broadband. There’s still hope, if the license
controls are relaxed, and vendors focus on making cheaper products available–and
on educating business users. But we’re running several years behind, an
eternity in infotech time.

pkr@cmil.com