Govt earmarks spectrum for defence; ends 8-yr sharing dispute

Ending 8-year long dispute over spectrum sharing with defence, the Cabinet today earmarked bands for exclusive use of security establishment while making available the remaining radiowaves for commercial use in areas like telecom and broadcasting.
Of the 49 bands of spectrum or radiowaves between 3 Mhz to 40 Ghz band, nine have been identified for exclusive use by the defence. In 31 other bands different users like telecom firms, broadcasters, civil aviation and space would co-exist.
For the remaining nine, a group has been formed to sort out issues between various user ministries.
After the identification of bands, there will be spectrum swapping with users like defence vacating the ones which have not been earmarked for them and moving into those reserved for them.

"The issue which has been pending last 8 years has been resolved today. Today entire Defence band has been identified," Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters after the meeting.
The Cabinet also approved swapping of 15 Megahertz of 3G spectrum between Defence and the Telecom Ministry. However, government will be able to provide it after completion of the harmonisation process.

"The band in 1700 to 2000 MHz is required to be harmonised. The Cabinet has approved that this harmonisation is to be done in a period of one year," Prasad said.
Telecom Ministry has proposed to exchange 15 Mhz spectrum it holds in 1900 Mhz band with same quantum of airwaves held by Defence in 2100 Mhz. The 2100 Mhz band is currently used for 3G services.

"Swapping of 15 MHz in the frequency band of 1900 MHz with Telecom has been permitted to be done today. Now the swapping will happen but it will take some time," Prasad said.
The Cabinet has asked ministries involved in the process to complete harmonisation within a year.