Isro voices concern over broadband spectrum

Here’s a new spin to the telecom spectrum story that may affect the forthcoming broadband wireless access auction.

Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) wants to ensure protection for mobile satellite and broadcasting satellite services, before the spectrum band for broadband wireless access (BWA) is finalised.

In a letter to Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) secretary RK Arnold, Isro scientific secretary A Bhaskaranarayana has written that the Department of Space (DoS) has in principle identified two slots of 20 MHz each for the possible use by BWA players.
However, “the DoS has informed the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) that use of these two 20 MHz slots by BWA will be subject to ensuring protection to the mobile satellite services and broadcasting satellite services in the spectrum bands adjacent to the proposed BWA spectrum bands,” the Isro official’s letter added.

The DoS and Isro concern is over allotment of BWA spectrum in 2535-2555 MHz and 2635-2655 MHz bands.

According to Isro, the Wimax characteristics, as defined currently, will affect the sensitive mobile satellite and broadcasting satellite services “due to out-of-band emission”.

An expert committee, comprising representatives of DoT, DoS, and Wimax Forum, is deliberating on the issue.

“Depending on the results of these deliberations, necessary technical measures to be implemented need to be finalised,” Isro said. The quantum of spectrum to be available for BWA or Wimax will depend on these deliberations.

Some of the other bands (for instance 3.4-3.6 GHz), proposed for BWA, have been rejected by the Department of Space as well.

Isro has pointed out that since many spectrum bands are used for several sensitive services and some of the bands may have specific issues, “applicability of the auction model to all bands cannot be generalised”.

DoT has scheduled auction of spectrum for 3G services on January 14 and 15, 2010.

Bidding for BWA spectrum is set for two days after the conclusion of 3G auction.

However, the auction process is likely to be delayed over spectrum-related issues.