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| Edited By: Nivedita Mookerji |Source: DNA |Updated: Mar 16, 2018, 05:34 AM IST
Swedish telecom equipment manufacturer, Ericsson, has submitted a proposal to the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), emphasising the need to identify and open up new frequency bands for mobile communications, which can be used for future mobile growth, especially in the rural areas.
The company has sought implementation of spectrum arrangement for India and other parts of the world that “could provide for harmonised and cost-efficient deployments of mobile broadband systems in the 698 - 862 MHz band.” UHF 700 MHz band is one of those bands, the company said.
Traditionally, spectrum in UHF frequency band 470 - 862 MHz has been used for analogue terrestrial broadcast services. But, Ericsson has reasoned that “digitisation of broadcast services has made or will make portion of this frequency band available for other services in most of the countries”.
Stating that the Indian telecom Industry is growing exponentially for the past several years, Ericsson has argued that “this growth has put additional pressure on the requirement of spectrum which is a limited resource”. Therefore, there is need to identify and open up new frequency bands for mobile telephony.
UHF 700 MHz band, according to the telco, would be suitable for mobile services as it has better coverage characteristics. This will “ensure network deployments to cover larger areas with fewer base stations”. Also, it would be economically viable, as per estimates. In addition, this band would offer better in-building coverage.
“This band is especially relevant for India, as majority of future growth is expected from rural India.”
World Radio-communication Conference (WRC) 2007 had identified the 698-790 MHz band or portions of this band for mobile telephony and broadband in Bangladesh, China, Korea, India, Japan, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Philippines and Singapore.
“There is already a move to shift the terrestrial TV transmission from analogue to digital mode across the world. Doordarshan is also in the process of planning for upgradation of its 14 analogue TV channels transmission to digital TV transmission,” Ericsson has said.
