Telecom operators are miffed with the division of telecommunications (DoT) for not becoming invited to a important consultation method on framing spectrum policy for the subsequent 10-years. The DoT will commence consultations from January 6 onwards about the roadmap for use of the spectrum throughout the subsequent 10 years but when tech businesses like Google, Facebook, Apple, Intel, Qualcomm and so forth have been invited, the operators have to propose their views by means of their association COAI. This is a trouble considering the fact that in the previous on numerous critical difficulties views of Reliance Jio has differed with these of incumbent operators like Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea.
The move by DoT to speak straight with tech firms and not telecom operators, has irked the telcos. The key aspect of distrust is about the future of E and V bands. While the tech business supports delicensing and light-touch regulation regime for E and V spectrum bands, the telecom operators are strongly opposing it. “DoT should have called the operators individually for the consultation as views of a company may be different from what is being given through an association,” mentioned an official with one particular of the telecom operators.
The E and V bands are deemed optimum for giving mobile broadband backhaul when its utility for 5G services is also evolving. So far, the government has not taken a contact about allocation methodology of spectrum in these bands.The DoT desires to know what modifications are expected in existing allocations, what frequency bands should really be deemed for IMT/5G and what spectrum allocations should really be performed in the subsequent 10 years.
On the initial day — January 6 — apart from the tech firms, associations such as COAI, BIF, GSMA, GSA, ITU Apt foundation, Motorola, Nokia, Ericsson and Samsung will participate in the meeting. On January 7, Global satellite coalition, Inmarsat, Hughes, One Web will meet with DoT. On January 8, associations such as TEMA, TEPC, TSDCI and directors of IIT Kanpur, IIT Chennai, IIT Mumbai, and IIT Delhi will meet when on January 11 and 12, there will be inter-ministerial consultations will take location. Ministries of Home Affairs, Railways, Civil Aviation, Shipping, Defence, Space and data and broadcasting will be holding discussions with DoT officials.