Defence forces to close all microwave links
Telecom companies cannot launch 3G telecom services on mobiles unless 3G spectrum vacated by the defence forces is reallocated.
By Joji Thomas Philip, TNN |
NEW DELHI: India's defence forces will close all its tropo-scatter and microwave links, which they currently use for wireless communication, by March 2009.
The defence ministry will give this undertaking to the department of telecom (DoT) when it signs an agreement with the latter on the road map for vacation of spectrum for commercial telephony. This will also be in line with the practices adopted by the armed forces in many countries in the West.
“Present wireless communication technologies used by the ministry of defence (MoD) are based on tropo-scattering and use spectrum inefficiently. In most countries, defence forces have migrated from these technologies and have vacated the spectrum for commercial use. There is an urgent need for the MOD to switchover to latest communication technologies, including optic fibre communications for fixed to fixed links. This will also enhance the communication capabilities of MOD,” states the draft agreement between the ministries of communication and defence on the road map for vacation of spectrum.
“As and when the optic fibre cable link is provided, the troposcatter and microwave communication links will be closed down,” the draft agreement adds.
The catch, however, is that the defence forces will adhere to the March 2009 deadline only if the DoT completes the nation-wide alternate communication network for the services within this time period. Even as the DoT completes the alternate network, the defence ministry on its part will provide it with workflow, massaging and PKI system design documents, ready live data centres, carry out core team augmentation and provide signoff for L2 locations, the draft agreement between the two ministries adds.
At present, cellular companies such as Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Essar and BSNL cannot launch third generation (3G) telecom services such as mobile TV, interactive gaming and high speed internet on mobiles unless 3G spectrum vacated by the defence forces is reallocated to them. Currently, all mobile services in the country are offered on second generation (2G) spectrum.
According to the DoT, most of the defence usages in the 1700 MHz to 2000 MHz frequency bands are through troposcatter links. The DoT has also said that the primary reason for the defence to give up the troposcatter links is that this was not a very reliable system and it also requires protection over larger bandwidth.
Besides, the DoT has also said that the troposcatter links is an obsolete technology which has been discarded worldwide. The advantage of the physical media (OFC network) is that it offers better signal quality, is more secure and can carry higher capacity, the DoT added.
The defence ministry will give this undertaking to the department of telecom (DoT) when it signs an agreement with the latter on the road map for vacation of spectrum for commercial telephony. This will also be in line with the practices adopted by the armed forces in many countries in the West.
“Present wireless communication technologies used by the ministry of defence (MoD) are based on tropo-scattering and use spectrum inefficiently. In most countries, defence forces have migrated from these technologies and have vacated the spectrum for commercial use. There is an urgent need for the MOD to switchover to latest communication technologies, including optic fibre communications for fixed to fixed links. This will also enhance the communication capabilities of MOD,” states the draft agreement between the ministries of communication and defence on the road map for vacation of spectrum.
“As and when the optic fibre cable link is provided, the troposcatter and microwave communication links will be closed down,” the draft agreement adds.
The catch, however, is that the defence forces will adhere to the March 2009 deadline only if the DoT completes the nation-wide alternate communication network for the services within this time period. Even as the DoT completes the alternate network, the defence ministry on its part will provide it with workflow, massaging and PKI system design documents, ready live data centres, carry out core team augmentation and provide signoff for L2 locations, the draft agreement between the two ministries adds.
At present, cellular companies such as Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Essar and BSNL cannot launch third generation (3G) telecom services such as mobile TV, interactive gaming and high speed internet on mobiles unless 3G spectrum vacated by the defence forces is reallocated to them. Currently, all mobile services in the country are offered on second generation (2G) spectrum.
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According to the DoT, most of the defence usages in the 1700 MHz to 2000 MHz frequency bands are through troposcatter links. The DoT has also said that the primary reason for the defence to give up the troposcatter links is that this was not a very reliable system and it also requires protection over larger bandwidth.
Besides, the DoT has also said that the troposcatter links is an obsolete technology which has been discarded worldwide. The advantage of the physical media (OFC network) is that it offers better signal quality, is more secure and can carry higher capacity, the DoT added.
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