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Thomas K. Thomas

New Delhi, Jan. 13 In a bid to speed up the deployment of wireless broadband services through technologies such as Wi-Max, the Wireless Planning and Coordination wing of the Department of Telecom has asked the Department of Space and the telecom operators to vacate the 2.5 Ghz frequency band.

WPC has given time till February 28 to the various users of the band to relocate themselves to other specified frequencies. As per the records with the telecom regulator, about 40 Mhz in the 2.5 Ghz band is used by the space agencies while another 40 Mhz is being used by telecom operators for back-end microwave links.

While the operators may not resist the order to vacate the band, the Department of Space has raised concerns. However, DoT officials said that the concerns raised has been addressed as they have been given new frequency bands for its operations.

Earlier, TRAI had suggested that spectrum in 2.5 Ghz be earmarked for offering wireless broadband services. The DoT has also issued guidelines to conduct an auction for allocating spectrum in this band.

“In view of the above, the wireless users/operators who have assignments in the frequency band 2.5 Ghz as well as 3.3 Ghz are required to shift their operations from 2.5 Ghz band and consolidate in 3.3-3.4 Ghz band immediately. Further, the operators, who have assignments only in 2.5 Ghz band, are required to relocate their operations from 2.5 Ghz band to 2.7-2.9 Ghz band,” the WPC order said.

Wireless broadband will enable operators to deploy high speed Internet connections faster and at much lower costs than fixed line.

For consumers, technologies such as Wi-Max promise to increase the speed of net surfing exponentially, apart from bringing in new applications like online education.

So far, broadband growth in the country has been very sluggish and TRAI has repeatedly said that the introduction of wireless broadband should be a priority.

More Stories on : Telecommunications | Broadband | Regulatory Bodies & Rulings

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