The DoT is currently thinking of selling 15MHz of 3G spectrum owned by the Defense Ministry in an auction set to be held in July this year. It’s now negotiating with the latter to free airwaves in the 2100Mhz 3G band.
As per PTI, the DoT will hand over 15MHz of spectrum in the 1900Mhz band in exchange if all goes according to the plan. The Cabinet had previously given the stamp of approval for the swap between the Ministries of Telecom and Defence back in January 2015. The process was supposed to have been completed within the span of a year.
This clearly has not come to pass on time. The initiative is part of the government’s plan to synchronize all airwaves among bodies like Space, Aviation, Defense Prasar Bharti and Telecom. The departments were supposed to have drawn up a timeline with regards to how long it would take them to vacate a spectrum not meant for them within 4 to 5 years.
The new swap exchange has some historical precedent. The Defense Ministry had previously signed a pact with the DoT in 2009 where the first freed up 25MHz of 3G spectrum and 20MHz of 2G gradually, and the second had said it would set up an exclusive defense network for communication services.
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In related news, the Telecom Commission is all set to meet on April 30 to thrash out the issue of spectrum auction. The meeting will include discussion of the final base price of the radiowaves to be put under the hammer. The process has the potential to generate Rs 5.36 lakh crore for the government.