Finance Ministry to evaluate progress of spectrum vacation by defence

07 Dec 2011 Evaluate

The ministry of finance has called a meeting to sort out differences between telecom ministry and defence ministry over the issue of vacation of spectrum. Further, the finance ministry will also review the progress on waiver of spectrum charges and setting up of dedicated Optical Fiber Network (OFC) for defence that would help vacation of spectrum of 20 MHz in the 2G band and also in the 3G band.

The ministry of defence has agreed to release an extra 150 MHz to the telecom ministry in a phased manner. Beside this, the defence ministry may be required to free extra 10+10 MHz from 1805 MHz-1880 MHz in 2G band. This will allow reframing of 900 MHz, which may be put to auction in 2014.

On the basis of bids last year, the vacation of additional 2G and 3G spectrum may generate extra revenue of around Rs 80,000 crore.  Last financial year the department of telecom (DoT) generated around Rs 1.06 lakh crore from the auction of 3G and Broadband Wireless Access Spectrum. 
 
Because of the differences between DoT and other departments such as information and broadcasting, defence and space on vacation of spectrum, the DoT had decided to take up the issue of vacation of spectrum to the EGoM, which would also look into identification of defence band. The DoT is in talks with various ministries for vacation of spectrum to make sure future availability of the spectrum for the telecom industry. 

Along with the various ministries, the DoT is also in discussion with the Power Grid Corporation of India for vacation of 10 to 12 MHz in different circles to make one chunk of 20 MHz pan-India. The telecom industry is already facing a spectrum scarcity. As per the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), the total requirement of spectrum in the coming five years would be around 500-800 MHz, including 275 MHz for voice services alone.    

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