Following Sun Cellular’s 3G announcement, Smart and Globe have applied for 3G licenses. So has Next Mobile – formerly Nextel.
We may wait up to three years for this, as they complete the requirements.
[NTC Deputy Commissioner Jorge] Sarmiento said that all applications for 3G will be evaluated for 60 days, after which NTC will assign five 3G frequencies to qualified applicants.
Holders of 3G licenses will then be required to put up 3G infrastructure by 2007 and offer 3G services by 2008.
He said 3G applicants will also be required to draft a five-year plan to roll out 3G services to 80% of provincial capitals and major towns and 80% of chartered cities in the country.
They will also be asked to negotiate for interconnection, sharing, and roaming agreements with other 3G and other cellular operators, local exchange carriers, and other public networks both here and abroad.
According to many players in the industry, 3G will make mobile gaming more viable. Given the market trends, it may even surpass PC-based gaming.
For the 3G versus WiFi/WiMax debate, 3G now has support from the major cellular telcos.