The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has probably given up on the prospect of getting spectrum vacated from the Defence forces any time soon.
NEW DELHI: The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has probably given up on the prospect of getting spectrum vacated from the Defence forces any time soon.
This sentiment is reflected in DoT’s information memorandum for auction of 3G telecom services.
DoT and the defence ministry have been engaged in dialogue for long for vacation of unused spectrum by the forces (Army, Navy and Air Force), so that telcos can utilise the same for offering smooth wireless phone services.
In its information memorandum on 3G auction, DoT has said, “the government does not intend to make a further allotment of spectrum in the 2.1GHz, 2.3GHz or 2.5GHz bands (other than the blocks being offered currently) over the next 12 months.” This is despite three circles (Rajasthan, North-East and West Bengal) being kept out of the purview of 3G auction completely and some others like Delhi having scope for only two private players.
The 3G auction is scheduled for January 16, but a delay is not being ruled out.
Earlier, DoT had said that 3G auction in the remaining circles (where spectrum is not available now) would be conducted when it gets adequate spectrum.
By stating that no further spectrum allocation would be done over the next 12 months, DoT has indicated that it may not get any spectrum vacated from the Forces within one year.
According to DoT, “The government is committed to the growth of telecom services in India, and as part of this commitment, it shall endeavour to make available more spectrum in the future for different commercial uses. However, it must be noted that there are constraints on the availability of additional spectrum due to various agencies currently utilising a significant portion of the spectrum.”
Meanwhile, the meeting of the group of ministers (GoM) on spectrum vacation, scheduled for November and then early December, had been deferred. National security advisor MK Narayanan was given the mandate by the GoM headed by external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee.
The GoM was constituted in 2007 for vacation of Defence spectrum.
Spectrum is a scarce natural resource essential for providing quality mobile telephony service.
DoT is expecting 30 MHz of 3G spectrum and 20 MHz of 2G spectrum from the Forces.
As per the latest estimate, the optic fibre network that the Defence Forces want in lieu of the vacated spectrum would cost the government Rs 14,000 crore.
m_nivedita@dnaindia.net
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