To encourage development of local wireless technologies, the Wireless Planning and Coordination (WPC) wing has proposed to reserve nearly 40 Mhz spectrum across various frequency bands to be used for indigenously developed telecom network products.

The WPC, which controls spectrum usage in the country on behalf of the Telecom Ministry, has floated a draft National Frequency Allocation plan under which it has mapped out airwaves in four different bands including the 900Mhz, 1,800 Mhz and 1,900 Mhz frequency bands for exclusive use for Made in India products.

The move is aimed at encouraging local technology companies to come up with India's own IPR in wireless technologies, thereby cutting down on imports.

Currently, almost all of telecom network technology is being imported from multinational companies such as Ericsson and Nokia Siemens. Reserving spectrum could act as an incentive to Indian companies such as Shyam Group and Tejas Networks.

For example, Shyam Group, which claims to have invested Rs 700 crore in developing a mobile solution for rural areas, could use the reserved airwaves in the 900 Mhz to deploy its technology, which has not found many takers so far.

On the other hand, mobile operators are opposed to the move given that they are faced with severe spectrum crunch in the same bands, parts of which are proposed to be reserved. The operators also said that it was too late to think about Indian technologies given that global players are much ahead in R&D.

Related Topics
comment COMMENT NOW