Telecom companies want the government to release the excess 700 MHz band, which is predominantly marked for Doordarshan and All India Radio (AIR), for commercial mobile phone services.
The telcos claim that the 700 MHz band, which is considered the most efficient for phone services, is lying idle as the national broadcasters do not have any roadmap for using it.
BOOTY AND THE BEAST
- Telcos claim that the 700 MHz band, considered the most efficient for phone services, is lying idle as the national broadcasters do not have any roadmap for its use
- Wireless Planning and Coordination (WPC) wing of the DoT appears to favour the release of this band to telecom companies
- The 700 MHz band is in big demand among broadcasters and mobile operators as services in this frequency band require very few base stations and other infrastructural support
- Telcos generally have been allocated higher frequency bands of 800, 900, 1800 and 2100 Mhz band, which need more towers and infrastructural support
- The I&B ministry has told the telecom ministry that it is in the process of digitising Doordarshan, which would require the use of 700 MHz spectrum
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The Wireless Planning & Coordination (WPC) wing of the department of telecommunications (DoT) appears to be in favour of releasing this band of spectrum to the telcos. Telcos have been demanding that the 700 Mhz band be allocated for mobile and broadband wireless access (BWA) services. This band has remained unutilised for years by state-run broadcaster Doordarshan (DD), they said.
MUST READ: What the new telecom policy proposes "There is still no roadmap by the govt for the use of 700 MHz for expansion and digitisation of DD & AIR," said an industry observer. The 700 MHz band is high in demand amongst broadcasters and mobile operators as services in this frequency band require very few base stations and other infrastructural support.
Telcos generally have been allocated higher frequency bands of 800, 900, 1,800 and 2,100 Mhz band, which need more towers and infrastructural support.
No spectrum auction this year, says Kapil Sibal The Union information and broadcasting (I&B) ministry had earlier asked the telecom ministry to ensure that the 700 MHz band of spectrum remains exclusively for state-run broadcasters. The I&B ministry, on the other hand, has already communicated to the telecom ministry that it is in the process of digitising Doordarshan, which would require the 700 MHz spectrum. This process is expected to be completed by 2017.
The complete digitisation of broadcasting services of Doordarshan, AIR and cable services is planned for rollout by 2017. Prasar Bharati has earmarked Rs 1,528 crore for its first phase of digitisation of Doordarshan and AIR that is set for completion in 2013.
While Doordarshan has been earmarked a budget of Rs 620 crore, AIR got Rs 908 crore for the first phase. In the first phase, DD will digitise 40 transmitters. It will also completely digitise 39 studios in 31 states and Union territories.
All India Radio has undertaken replacement and digitisation of 70 MW transmitters, 34 old FM transmitters, setting up of 130 new digital compatible FM Transmitters, nine short wave transmitters and 98 studio centres in 34 states and Union territories.
Though the government is yet to take a final view on the recommendations of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) that December 31, 2013 should be the sunset day for analogue transmission, it has reiterated that it expects to complete the digitisation of Doordarshan and AIR only by 2017.
Courtesy: Mail Today
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