| Introduction | | | | defense department. |
| Radio Frequency Spectrum is a limited natural | | | | Spectrum Allotment Procedure |
| resource. Spectrum basically refers to a collection of | | | | In the case of licensed telecom service provider's |
| various types of electromagnetic radiations of | | | | spectrum was initially allotted in accordance with the |
| different wavelengths. In India the radio frequencies | | | | relevant provisions of the service license agreements. |
| are arbitrarily confined between 9kHz and 3000 GHz | | | | However, due to an exponential increase in the |
| and are being used for 40 different types of services | | | | number of mobile subscribers additional mobile is |
| like fixed communication, mobile communication, | | | | required by the mobile operators. Serving a larger |
| broadcasting, radio navigation, radiolocation, fixed and | | | | number of subscribers requires, either a larger |
| mobile satellite service, aeronautical satellite service, | | | | amount of spectrum or an increase in the number of |
| radio navigational satellite service etc. | | | | base stations. Therefore, additional spectrum is |
| Some of the important and typical characteristics of | | | | required at some stage as a techno economic |
| the radio frequency Spectrum are as below. | | | | solution to meet the growth of mobile services. |
| 1. Radio frequency spectrum does not respect | | | | Department of Telecommunications has evolved |
| international geographical boundaries as it is spread | | | | guidelines for the allotment of extra spectrum, based |
| over a large terrestrial area. | | | | on the justification and fulfillment of the prescribed |
| 2. Use of radio frequency Spectrum is susceptible to | | | | criteria. The subscriber-based criteria have been |
| overlapping interference and requires the application | | | | formulated taking into account demographic |
| of complex engineering tools to ensure interference | | | | characteristics of different categories of service |
| free operation of various wireless networks. | | | | areas, average traffic per subscriber, number of base |
| 3. Unlike other natural resources, radio frequency | | | | stations in a specified area etc. Spectrum is allotted |
| spectrum is not consumed upon its usage. It is also | | | | subject to completion of co-ordination and availability |
| liable to be wasted if it is not used optimally and | | | | at a particular location. |
| efficiently. Radio frequency spectrum usage is | | | | As spectrum is a scarce resource, its equitable |
| therefore to be shared amongst the various radio | | | | allotment for systems using different technologies |
| services and must be used efficiently, optimally and | | | | seems to be the solution. The government while |
| economically in conformity with the provisions of | | | | formulating its spectrum policy should try to create a |
| national and international laws. | | | | flexible and technology neutral regime to allow new |
| The limitation of the radio frequency spectrum is | | | | technologies equal access to spectrum. It should also |
| mainly due to the following factors. | | | | enable market mechanisms to promote efficient use |
| 1. Propagation characteristics of different types of | | | | of spectrum by developing market incentives and |
| radio waves. | | | | differential pricing of spectrum in congested areas. |
| 2. Availability of technology and equipment for | | | | Also auctions or fixed fee access can ensure that |
| different types of radio frequency spectrum | | | | spectrum 'owners' will want to minimize the quantum |
| applications. | | | | of spectrum. The government may also permit public |
| 3. The suitability of frequency bands for specific | | | | and private users to trade spectrum to allow new |
| applications | | | | users access to spectrum and to provide them with |
| Allocation of Spectrum | | | | possibilities to move to another non - wireless media |
| The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) at | | | | or other frequency bands if possible. It can also mark |
| the World Radio communication Conferences allocate | | | | off specific public and private use segments of |
| Spectrum frequencies for the use of various | | | | spectrum and try to bring about transparency and |
| countries. Allocations are made on a regional basis and | | | | openness in the spectrum allotment process so that |
| for different types of services. It is mandatory for all | | | | this scarce natural resource is put to it optimal use in |
| administrations to adhere to these allocations. For the | | | | a more efficient manner |
| purpose of spectrum allocation, each member | | | | Spectrum Management Department of |
| country submits its proposals to ITU, based on their | | | | Telecommunication |
| requirements and priorities for opening of the bands. | | | | With the proliferation of new technologies and the |
| During the conference all the proposals are discussed | | | | growing demand for telecommunication services, the |
| and decisions are taken for opening of the bands for | | | | demand on spectrum has increased manifold. It is, |
| new services or extension of the existing bands. | | | | therefore, essential that spectrum be utilized |
| These decisions are reflected in the International | | | | efficiently, economically, rationally and optimally. There |
| Frequency allocation Table of radio regulation and | | | | is a need for a transparent process of allocation of |
| other regulatory provisions for use of bands, which | | | | frequency spectrum for use by a service and making |
| forms the basis for allotment by the member | | | | it available to various users under specific conditions. |
| countries. Need for spectrum allocation | | | | The National Frequency Allocation Plan (NFAP) was |
| Spectrum Allocation is necessary in order to ensure | | | | last established in 1981, and has been modified from |
| interference free operation for each radio service. | | | | time to time since. With the proliferation of new |
| Each frequency band is shared amongst various radio | | | | technologies it is essential to revise the NFAP in its |
| services but the sharing is possible only with the use | | | | entirety so that it could become the basis for |
| of similar systems. Sharing is also possible by way of | | | | development, manufacturing and spectrum utilization |
| geographical separation, time-sharing and through | | | | activities in the country amongst all users. The NFAP |
| technical solutions like smart antenna and intelligent | | | | is presently under review and the revised NFAP-2000 |
| radio system. | | | | would be made public by the end of 1999, detailing |
| National Frequency Allocation Plan: 2002. | | | | information regarding allocation of frequency bands |
| The National Frequency Allocation Plan (NFAP) forms | | | | for various services, without including security |
| the basis for development and manufacturing of | | | | information. NFAP shall be reviewed no later than |
| wireless equipment and spectrum utilization in the | | | | every two years and shall be in line with radio |
| country. It contains the service options in various | | | | regulations of International Telecommunication Union. |
| frequency bands for India and also provides the | | | | Relocation of existing Spectrum and Compensation: |
| channeling plan in different bands. | | | | - Considering the growing need of spectrum for |
| Spectrum and Mobile Telephone Services: | | | | communication services, there is a need to make |
| Mobile telephone service providers in India use GSM | | | | adequate spectrum available. |
| and CDMA\technologies. GSM technology works in | | | | - Appropriate frequency bands have historically been |
| the frequency bands of 900 and 1800 MHz in India | | | | assigned to defense & others and efforts would |
| and CDMA technology works in the 800 MHz band. | | | | be made towards relocating them so as to have |
| 800, 900 and 1800 MHz bands were earlier allotted to | | | | optimal utilization of spectrum. Compensation for |
| the\defiance services for their mobile communication | | | | relocation may be provided out of spectrum fee and |
| usage. However, upon the launch of mobile | | | | revenue share levied by Government. |
| communication services for public, coordination was | | | | - There is a need to review the spectrum allocations |
| sought from the defense department to make the | | | | in a planned manner so that required frequency |
| spectrum available for mobile services. Since the | | | | bands are available to the service providers. |
| mobile communication technologies provide | | | | There is a need to have a transparent process of |
| international roaming facilities, it is essential to allocate | | | | allocation of frequency spectrum which is effective |
| spectrum in the common bands which are being used | | | | and efficient. This would be examined further in the |
| the world over. Also, the mobile handsets being used | | | | light of ITU guidelines. For the present, the following |
| are imported hence conform to the GSM 900/1800 | | | | course of action shall be adopted. |
| bands. If radio frequencies are allotted in other bands | | | | - Spectrum usage fee shall be charged. |
| then handsets will not be compatible with it and new | | | | - Setting up an empowered Inter-Ministerial Group to |
| handsets will have to be developed which will be | | | | be called as Wireless Planning Coordination Committee |
| costlier and therefore the cost of mobile | | | | (WPCC) as part of the Ministry of Communications |
| communication services will also increase. | | | | for periodical review of spectrum availability and |
| Presently, 25 MHz spectrum in 900 MHz band (890 - | | | | broad allocation policy. |
| 915 / 935 - 960 MHz) and 75 MHz in the 1800 MHz | | | | Conclusion. |
| band (1710 - 1785 / 1805 - 1880 MHz) is earmarked | | | | Radio spectrum or Spectrum is the pipe that carries |
| for GSM services. However, out of this total 100 | | | | wireless communication of all types. It is measured in |
| MHz, only 15 MHz in GSM 1800 band is available for | | | | Mega Hertz (millions of cycles per second) and for |
| use as the remaining 60 MHz is still to be vacated by | | | | this business is like dough for a bakery. It is certainly |
| the defense department. Also out of the total 25 | | | | not possible to start a wireless service without being |
| MHz in GSM 900 band, a total of 20.2 MHz is available | | | | allocated spectrum, just like it is not possible to make |
| for GSM networks and Railways' train safety | | | | bread without having dough. To complicate matters |
| systems. The minimum amount of spectrum required | | | | further, unlike dough whose supply can be increased |
| for launching GSM services is 2 x 4.4 MHz. Presently, | | | | by increasing wheat cultivation, there is a finite |
| the government has allotted a cumulative maximum | | | | amount of spectrum - currently around 35 MHz - that |
| spectrum of up to 4.4 MHz in GSM 900 and 1800 | | | | is available for commercial operations and is leased |
| MHz band to mobile operators. | | | | out by the government to start a wireless service in |
| For CDMA services, 20 MHz spectrum in the 800 MHz | | | | a given area, a new operator requires around 2.5-4.4 |
| band (824 - 844 / 869 - 889 MHz) is available. In this | | | | MHz, depending on the technology. After nearly a |
| 20 + 20 MHz spectrum, 14 CDMA carriers of nominal | | | | year of wrangling between the department of |
| 1.25 MHz each are possible for assignment to service | | | | telecom and the defense ministry, we are about to |
| providers. Spectrum for the roll out of 3G services | | | | see about 105 MHz (25 MHz for GSM services, 50 |
| (voice, data and video) will be allotted through e | | | | MHz for high-speed mobile and 60/2 MHz for wireless |
| auction in the 2.1 GHz (1920 - 1980 / 2110 - 2170 | | | | internet services) being released for commercial |
| MHz) band. However, the Spectrum required for the | | | | services, setting off a frenzy among aspiring wireless |
| launch of 3G services is yet to be vacated by the | | | | operators. |