In order to have better allocation of spectrum for commercial entities and Internet use, India needs a review of its spectrum management and regulatory policies. Explain (200 Words)
Refer - Business Line
Enrich the answer from other sources, if the question demands.
IAS Parliament 5 years
KEY POINTS
· For the spectrum resource to be available to citizens of the country, it is important that at the national level, relevant spectrum bands are identified, and streamlined processes are put in place for allocating them to different service providers/users in a timely manner.
· Spectrum availability for commercial services continues to be constrained as the spectrum that was allocated to various public agencies was done administratively, and there was no proper framework to reorient the existing users to different bands or ensure that it was optimally utilised.
Regulating the allocation of Spectrum
· To recognise the market potential/price, the released spectrum could be auctioned to service providers.
· This mechanism called incentive auction creates a win-win situation for both the seller and the service provider who can exploit the released spectrum for commercial opportunities. The auction proceeds may then be used by the seller to go digital.
· Incentive auctions have been used effectively in the US and UK, especially for the release of spectrum from erstwhile broadcast services to mobile services.
· In India, spectrum audit studies have hardly been done.
· The I&B Ministry has been very slow in digitisation. Doordarshan (DD) has a monopoly in terrestrial services.
Recommendations
· As a first step, an inter-ministerial group with representation from concerned agencies, both public and private needs to be put in place.
· An action orientation and a well-laid out road map are necessary.
· Spectrum audits, especially of government and public users, could identify unutilised spectrum.
· Recommendations from previous such groups and task force have remained only on paper. Industry associations and citizens need to lobby for such reforms as these are also beneficial to them.
