Says airwaves in this network should cost less as it is being used for emergency, disaster management services
It's not just the telecom service providers (telcos), who want to pin down spectrum prices, the state wants it too. The Delhi government that has been allocated frequencies for public safety, emergency and disaster management services, has also written to the telecom secretary to bring down spectrum charges for its Terrestrial Trunked Radio (Tetra) network back to the previous level.
DM Spolia, chief secretary, National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi, in a letter to the telecom secretary has urged that the Delhi government be allowed to continue paying the old rates for the spectrum.
Spolia puts forth the argument that Tetra network spectrum was being used for purposes other than commercial and therefore should not be pegged at a higher rate.
"It is requested that the government of NCT of Delhi may be allowed to pay the same spectrum charges as before at the rate of Rs 16.70 lakh per annum vis-à-vis the rate of Rs 1.40 crore," states Spolia's letter to telecom secretary Rakesh Garg.
Tetra is a common mobile radio network used for both voice and data services by police, public safety and emergency rescue services. It is also used for private access mobile radio applications that relate to maintenance and repair, courier and delivery services, construction, and public transportation.
Spolia's request has come in response to the telecom department's order to the Delhi government to remit an amount of Rs 19.74 crore as annual spectrum charges for five pairs of frequencies and its Tetra network. He pointed out that the Tetra network, owned by the Delhi government, was being mostly used by the city police.
"At present, around 4,000 Tetra radio sets (out the 4861 sets with the Delhi government) are deployed by Delhi Police for use by their field staff. Delhi Police is extensively using this wireless network as the backbone of the police operations in Delhi, with the main objective of preventing any terrorist attacks and protecting life of citizens," the letter states.
Spolia said that since there were no "commercial subscribers" in Delhi's Tetra network, its spectrum charge should be nominal.
"These departments (those on Tetra network) are responsible for public safety and emergency/disaster management services. As such, the spectrum charges should be nominal for such networks unlike that for commercial networks," he wrote to Garg.
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