ONGC rings DoT for spectrum to set up own network

Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has approached the department of telecom for allocation of spectrum to set up a captive communication network for its Western Offshore site.

The oil PSU has sought permission to build a captive communication network based on Broadband Wireless Access System for the Western Offshore location in the 3.3 GHz frequency band.

According to sources, the DoT is considering ONGC’s proposal and has asked the wireless department to give status of the availability of spectrum in the required band.

Earlier, such request of ONGC has been considered for BWA system in the 3.3 Ghz band for on shore locations in Gujarat.Since, the requirement is for off shore, that is over 60 kms from sea shore, perhaps the same assignment can be considered for the proposed network.

DoT may now ask ONGC to sign a licence agreement with the telecom department. As of now Tatanet, a division of Nelco, a connectivity solutions provider, provides communication infrastructure solutions to ONGC’s Western Offshore site. The Western Offshore oil and gas field bears large producing assets of ONGC.