Ending 8-year dispute over spectrum sharing with defence, the Union Cabinet on Wednesday earmarked bands for exclusive use of security establishment while making available the remaining radio waves for commercial use in telecom and broadcasting.
Of the 49 bands of spectrum between 3 Mhz to 40 Ghz band, nine have been identified for exclusive use by the defence. In 31 other bands, different users would co-exist. For the remaining nine, a group has been formed to sort out issues between various ministries.
Spectrum swap proposed
With the Union Cabinet on Wednesday earmarking bands for defence, telecom and broadcasting, there will be spectrum swapping with users like defence vacating the ones which have not been earmarked for them and moving into those reserved for them.
“The issue, which has been pending last 8 years, has been resolved today. Today entire Defence band has been identified,” Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters after the meeting.
The Cabinet also approved swapping of 15 Megahertz of 3G spectrum between Defence and the Telecom Ministries. However, the government will be able to provide it after completion of the harmonisation process.
“The band in 1700 to 2000 MHz is required to be harmonised. The Cabinet has approved that this harmonisation is to be done in a period of one year,” Mr. Prasad said.
The Telecom Ministry has proposed to exchange 15 Mhz spectrum it holds in the 1,900 Mhz band with same quantum of airwaves held by Defence in 2100 Mhz. The 2100 Mhz band is currently used for 3G services.
“Swapping of 15 MHz in the frequency band of 1900 MHz with Telecom has been permitted to be done. Now the swapping will happen but it will take some time,” Mr. Prasad said.
The Cabinet has asked the ministries involved in the process to complete harmonisation within a year.
The government has identified that entire spectrum 50 km inside the Indian territory from international border will be classified as Defence Interest Zone.
“The area in 50 km on the border of India is called Defence Interest Zone [DIZ]. In peace time telecom operation that we will do we will inform Defence that this is our infrastructure. In the time of hostility, then those will come under the jurisdiction of Defence,” Mr. Prasad said.
