The Hindu Business Line : GoM meeting on spectrum allocation today

New Delhi, Sept. 6 After almost a year since it was set up by the Prime Minister, the Group of Ministers on spectrum allocation is scheduled to hold its first meeting on Friday. The GoM headed by the External Affairs Minister, Mr Pranab Mukherjee will discuss a long term strategy to streamline spectrum allocation to various users including mobile operators. The GoM will also discuss ways and means to get additional frequency vacated from defence services.

Pending applications

More than 124 applications for new cellular licences are pending with the Department of Telecom. These licences, however cannot be issued since DoT does not have adequate spectrum to accommodate all the operators. DoT has asked the defence forces to vacate 45 Mhz immediately and about 60 Mhz more over a period of time. The defence has however asked DoT to build an alternate medium of communication at a cost of around Rs 6,000 crore.

The GoM’s terms of reference is to recommend measures for vacation of adequate additional spectrum from existing users such as defence, space and para-military forces and to suggest alternate frequency bands/media for migration of such existing users, considering the nature of technology upgradation.

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