Defence ministry rejects Telecom Commission's request for spectrum band
KOLKATA: The Telecom Commission may shortly urge the telecom regulator to recommend alternate spectrum bands for indoor cordless communication with the defence ministry dismissing the sector regulator's call for delicensing 20 units of airwaves in the 1880-1900 MHz frequency band for such services.
In an internal note to the telecom secretary, seen by ET, the defence ministry asserted that the 1880-1900 MHz band "remained critical to defence operational applications," and Trai needed to explore other commercial bands where device ecosystems for cordless telecom services are available. At present, the 300 units of airwaves between 1700 MHz and 2000 MHz are equally shared between the telecom department (DoT) and the armed forces. Airwaves in the 1880-1900 MHz sub-band lie within the 150 units block allocated to the defence ministry.
The defence ministry said "it is not in a position to further negotiate spectrum in the designated defence band" since the armed forces are already finding it difficult to accommodate existing strategic communication systems in "their constricted 150 units allocation". Any "delicensing of the 1880-1900 MHz sub-band for indoor cordless communications would also interfere with defence networks and "hurt the armed forces," it warned.
Accordingly, a telecom department (DoT) panel examining Trai's proposals has urged the Telecom Commission to take a view on the matter.
However, the apex decision-making wing of the communications ministry may find it a challenge resolving matters, especially since agencies such as the DECT Forum India (DFI) have supported Trai's proposal, asserting that "more than a 100 countries were using the 1880-1900 MHz band for digital cordless communications systems".
The DFI, a trade body that disseminates information on latest wireless communications trends, has also rejected the defence ministry's apprehensions about possible interference with armed forces communications networks. In another letter to DoT, the Centre for Internet & Society (CIS), has also backed Trai's proposal, adding that such "delicensing of the 1880-1900 MHz band for low powered devices" like cordless systems is in line with National Telecom Policy 2012. In fact, the Bangalore-based research organisation has urged DoT to "accept Trai's recommendation" and ring in world-class digital cordless technologies.
In an internal note to the telecom secretary, seen by ET, the defence ministry asserted that the 1880-1900 MHz band "remained critical to defence operational applications," and Trai needed to explore other commercial bands where device ecosystems for cordless telecom services are available. At present, the 300 units of airwaves between 1700 MHz and 2000 MHz are equally shared between the telecom department (DoT) and the armed forces. Airwaves in the 1880-1900 MHz sub-band lie within the 150 units block allocated to the defence ministry.
The defence ministry said "it is not in a position to further negotiate spectrum in the designated defence band" since the armed forces are already finding it difficult to accommodate existing strategic communication systems in "their constricted 150 units allocation". Any "delicensing of the 1880-1900 MHz sub-band for indoor cordless communications would also interfere with defence networks and "hurt the armed forces," it warned.
Accordingly, a telecom department (DoT) panel examining Trai's proposals has urged the Telecom Commission to take a view on the matter.
However, the apex decision-making wing of the communications ministry may find it a challenge resolving matters, especially since agencies such as the DECT Forum India (DFI) have supported Trai's proposal, asserting that "more than a 100 countries were using the 1880-1900 MHz band for digital cordless communications systems".
The DFI, a trade body that disseminates information on latest wireless communications trends, has also rejected the defence ministry's apprehensions about possible interference with armed forces communications networks. In another letter to DoT, the Centre for Internet & Society (CIS), has also backed Trai's proposal, adding that such "delicensing of the 1880-1900 MHz band for low powered devices" like cordless systems is in line with National Telecom Policy 2012. In fact, the Bangalore-based research organisation has urged DoT to "accept Trai's recommendation" and ring in world-class digital cordless technologies.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment