Reactivate GoM on spectrum vacation, says Sam Pitroda

The prime minister's office (PMO) has written to the telecom secretary to take note of PM's advisor Sam Pitroda's views on reactivating the group of ministers (GoM) to focus on spectrum availability. The PMO also asked the secretary to respond on Pitroda's advice by next Monday.

Pitroda wrote a letter to the PM, calling for action to make 45 megahertz (MHz) of vacated spectrum available to the telecom sector.

The defence has already released 20 MHz of 2G and 25 Mhz of 3G spectrum.

"Since the decision was by a GoM on vacation of spectrum over three years, and consequent vacation of 45 megahertz of 2G and 3G spectrum by defence services, there has been no initiative to secure the availability of more spectrum," Pitroda wrote.

Pitroda believes the time is 'opportune' for the GoM , as there are possibilities of more spectrum being made available. The defence is moving to its own dedicated optical fibre communication network that will replace terrestrial wire links and release further spectrum.

"The OFC network is likely to commissioned over next year," Pitroda said. As defence moves to its network, 10 Mhz of 2G GSM and 7.5 Mhz of 2G CDMA spectrum can be freed for use by the telecom sector. Also, 25 Mhz of 3G spectrum will be vacated by the defence.

The Department of Space (DoS), too, can contribute to spectrum availability. "DoS had earlier released 40 Mhz for mobile services. Of the balance 150 Mhz, in line with the radio regulations, DoS has no proposal to utilise 80 Mhz. This band has been earmarked globally for 4G/BWA (broadband wireless access) services. This could be made available for 4G/BWA services," Pitroda wrote.

Public broadcaster Prasar Bharti, too, is moving to digitisation, and some spectrum used in its current analogue mode can aid the telecom sector. An unspecified amount of spectrum in the 585-646 Mhz band can be made available for 4G services.

Effective utilisation of the current spectrum is also on Pitroda's agenda. He believes 'white spaces' can help increase spectrum availability. These are frequencies made available for unlicensed use in rural and urban areas during off-peak hours when spectrum is not fully utilised by the licencee.

"Most countries have made regulations for exploitation of white spaces. Affordable broadband access in rural areas could be facilitated by exploiting white spaces in the de-licensed bands," wrote Pitroda. However, the use of white spaces requires the government to formulate a policy.