The Hindu Business Line : DoT against inclusion of 450 Mhz as 3G band

New Delhi, Nov. 1 In a setback to CDMA operators, the Department of Telecom has decided against recognising the 450 Mhz band for third generation mobile services.

At the ongoing World Radio Communication Conference being held at Geneva under the aegis of International Telecommunication Union, DoT has taken a position against supporting a global move to include the frequency band as part of the 3G bands.

India’s views will have a strong bearing on what the global telecom standards body finally decides.

Contrasting view

The DoT move is contrary to the suggestions made by the telecom regulator, the Defence forces and the National Working Group-8 (set up to formulate India’s views in this regard).

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India in its recommendations on 3G services had told the Government that a block of 5 Mhz should be given to CDMA players to deploy 3G services in the 450 Mhz band. DoT has, however, taken a view that since the frequency band was being heavily used in India, it could not be deployed for mobile services.

Changing stance

The move has irked CDMA players who pointed out that DoT had suddenly changed its stance after taking a neutral position at various global ITU meets over the past year.

In one of its earlier responses submitted to ITU in April 2006, DoT had said that 450 Mhz band was being allocated for cellular mobile technologies.

Even during subsequent meetings of the NWG-8, which includes DoT officials, it was agreed to push for including the frequency band as a 3G band. However, the views of NWG-8 did not find mention in DoT’s draft proposal to ITU.

Overrules suggestions

At a meeting held in January 2007, the NWG raised the issue again and urged DoT to add its recommendations.

But the department has decided to overrule the NSG’s observations and in a proposal submitted to ITU on October 12, it has said that India does not support the identification of any parts of bands 450-470 Mhz for IMT-2000 (3G).

“While DoT has the right to take the final decision, there has been no transparency in this matter. All the discussions and conclusions made by various stakeholders have come to a naught,” said a CDMA player. Promoters of rival technologies GSM and Wi-Max were in favour of keeping out 450 Mhz from the 3G band.

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