Defence to vacate spectrum by April

Armed forces to release 20+20 Mhz in 1800 Mhz band.

In the coming months, telecom operators will start getting more frequencies from the defence ministry, which will help improve the quality of the services they offer.

As part of a "short-term measure", the armed forces would release an additional 20+20 Mhz in the 1800 Mhz band across India as early as April, department of telecommunication sources said. They are also likely to simultaneously release 25+25 Mhz in the IMT-2000 band, sources added.

The two frequency bands will help GSM and CDMA operators to meet their expansion commitments until April 2007. Barring Jammu and Kashmir and areas within 100 km of India's international boundaries, the rest of the country will benefit from this move.

For Jammu and Kashmir, defence agencies would be able to release only 15+15 Mhz in the 1800 Mhz band, sources in the department of telecommunications said.

Cellular Operators' Association of India Director-General TV Ramachandran said the measure would provide "enough oxygen to companies for a year". Any further release of additional spectrum will be subsequently reviewed after April 2007.

In a related move, the ministry has decided to set up another "steering committee" headed by DoT Secretary JS Sarma to oversee the implementation of the proposed Rs 2,000-crore alternative communications network for the defence agencies.

DoT sources added that the alternative network for defence communications would enable the armed forces to release more frequencies for commercial services and would be operational by March 2007.

The committee would have a core implementation team consisting of representatives from the Army, the Air Force, the Navy, the wireless planning and coordination wing, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd, and a supervisory group to ensure that day-to-day implementation of extra spectrum was done expeditiously, the DoT sources added.

This committee had been given a Budget allocation of Rs 100 crore for 2006-07 and a revised Budget estimate for additional funds would be announced in July 2006, the DoT sources said, while adding that orders for equipment would be placed in September 2006.

The committee will try to ensure that the access network in at least 75 per cent locations is completed by December 2006, and the entire project executed by March 2007.