India to issue mobile TV regulations, spectrum audit

A regulatory framework for the introduction of mobile TV services by private operators in India is soon to be introduced by The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B).

According to the Times of India, the Ministry is currently laying down the rules of engagement, with a draft mobile TV policy expected to be put before the cabinet within the next three months, the newspaper reports.

“In this context, the recommendations of TRAI [Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of India] have been examined and certain issues related to spectrum identification within the recommended band, the determination of service area licenses and the number of providers is under discussion,” said Raghu Menon, I&B secretary.

There is growing demand that some of India’s 700MHz frequency band, which is currently used for defence and broadcasting services, be auctioned for fourth generation (4G) mobile and wireless broadband applications.

The Controller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has, meanwhile, just announced is to undertake a comprehensive audit of the country’s total available spectrum, as well as its strategic and commercial use.

The move, reported by Business Standard, follows the country’s second generation (2G) spectrum auction debacle and a request last year by TRAI for a review of spectrum use, spectrum efficiency and solutions to current problems.

Communications Minister Kapil Sibal has also pledged that a blueprint on spectrum will be issued to operators by the government soon.source

Mobile Tariffs Likely to ShootUp

In a field agitate in contract that haw attain ambulatory medium services costly, Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal today said henceforth every operators would impact to clear mart toll for initial as substantially added spectrum.
Delinking spectrum from the licences in the consequence of the 2G cheat , Sibal said, “In future, the spectrum module not be bundled with licence. The authorise to be issued to medium operators module be in the nature of ‘Unified Licence’ and the authorise bearer module be liberated to substance some of the varied medium services.
“In the event, the authorise bearer would same to substance wireless services, it module impact to obtain spectrum finished a mart unvoluntary process,” he told a advise conference.
As of today the medium operators were effort spectrum bundled with the medium licenses which had sealed the artefact for baritone tariff program and pure toll struggle among the assist providers.
But now, the newborn operators, if their licences are held valid, would impact to clear a mart toll for the added 1.8 Mhz of 2G spectrum and this haw attain their dealings financially unviable.
For the older operators same Bharti, Vodafone and Idea, who are retentive spectrum beyond 6.2 Mhz, they would impact to clear mart unvoluntary toll for the player airwaves.
These changes would be implemented with unmediated effect, Sibal said.
One of the newborn operators, when contacted, said that the newborn program has presented a field plus to the older operators by allowing them to keep 6.2 Mhz of spectrum patch the newborn operators would be at expiration as they impact to clear mart toll for the added 1.8 Mhz spectrum.
At a instance when the newborn operators are struggling to intend newborn subscribers, added outlay on them would impact them hard.
“We requirement to earnestly study the acceptation of an sell impact for portion and pricing of spectrum beyond 6.2 Mhz patch ensuring that there is competent rivalry in the sell process,” Sibal told reporters here. source

New Spectrum Policy Good For Old Operators

Tata Teleservices on Saturday said that all operators, including new and old ones, should be given 6.2 Mhz spectrum, and over and above that they should be charged as per the market price. "In line with what we have been stating during the consultation process held by Trai in the first half of 2010, we would re-emphasize that all operators be given 6.2 Mhz spectrum in a manner that those waiting for start-up spectrum are first allocated the same," TTSL said in a statement.
TTSL's statement comes in the wake of telecom minister Kapil Sibal's decision to delink spectrum from the licence and reduce the contract limit of spectrum to 4.4 Mhz for new operators. For the old operators the limit has been retained at 6.2 Mhz.
Sibal said that henceforth all spectrum, initial as well as additional, would be given at market driven price.
"...Those who have excess spectrum are charged for the same, preferably retrospectively, to bring all operators to a level-playing-field," TTSL said.
It added that consequent to bringing the level-playing-field, the spectrum beyond 6.2 and up to the limits specified by Trai in May 2010 could be charged by DoT in line with Trai's recommendations.
Besides Tatas, one more operator, who did not wish to be identified, also opposed the move to limit the contracted spectrum to 4.4 Mhz saying the new regime would give huge advantage to old operators, who have millions of subscribers in their kitty.
This (new regime) would make new operators' operations financially unviable.
Most of the other new operators declined to comment on the new policy.
"Having waited for three years since others received their spectrum, it is urged that the government quickly allocates the spectrum to those who have been waiting since long," TTSL asserted.source