Plan panel moots spectrum management group
Plan Panel has proposed that India's regulatory framework be redesigned and a communications convergence regulator be set up. Marketers make phone buzz
By Joji Thomas Philip & Meenakshi Verma, TNN |
NEW DELHI: The Planning Commission has called for different ministries to work in a coordinated manner to identify the radio frequency requirements of all sectors and has also suggested that a Spectrum Management Group be set up to achieve this. At present, all spectrum planning and allotment is handled by the Wireless Planning and Coordination Wing of the Department of Telecom (DoT).
Importantly, with the convergence of telecom, broadcasting and internet networks, the Planning Commission has also proposed that India’s regulatory framework be redesigned and a common communications convergence regulator be set up to address future requirements. “The Information and Broadcasting (I&B), private broadcasters and service providers along with department of telecommunications (WPC cell) need to work in a coordinated manner to identify spectrum requirements keeping their rollout plans so that spectrum planning could be proactively made.
A Spectrum Management Group could be set up to achieve this,” the report of the Sub-group on ‘going digital’, set up by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said. This Sub-group under the chairmanship of member secretary, Planning Commission, had representatives from telecom ministry, I&B ministry, entertainment sector, electronics manufacturing associations, domain experts and the broadcasting industry.
Importantly, with the convergence of telecom, broadcasting and internet networks, the Planning Commission has also proposed that India’s regulatory framework be redesigned and a common communications convergence regulator be set up to address future requirements. “The Information and Broadcasting (I&B), private broadcasters and service providers along with department of telecommunications (WPC cell) need to work in a coordinated manner to identify spectrum requirements keeping their rollout plans so that spectrum planning could be proactively made.
A Spectrum Management Group could be set up to achieve this,” the report of the Sub-group on ‘going digital’, set up by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said. This Sub-group under the chairmanship of member secretary, Planning Commission, had representatives from telecom ministry, I&B ministry, entertainment sector, electronics manufacturing associations, domain experts and the broadcasting industry.
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At the same time, the group’s recommendations also address another controversial issue. While TRAI currently handles regulatory issues with regard to telecom, broadcast, internet and convergence, many ministries are mooting for separate regulators, for instance, I&B ministry has been working towards the creation of a broadcast regulator.
Besides, with broadcasters challenging key recommendations of TRAI , the Supreme Court stepped in last week and ruled that TRAI had the jurisdiction to regulate the broadcast sectors. In a bid to put an end to turf wars, the Sub-group, in its report said: “Different communication sectors have traditionally been regulated by different acts and also by different institutions. The convergence process and combination of broadcast and traditional telecom networks will require not only adjustment but also rethinking and redesign of the whole regulatory framework, thus the need for setting up a common communications convergence regulator”.
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The Sub-group’s report comes even as telecom regulator TRAI and DoT and involved in a war of words over spectrum management. TRAI has demanded that this responsibility should be handed over to the regulator, especially considering the WPC’s poor record so far with regard to spectrum management and planning for the future.
The DoT while accepting that TRAI’s charge that its (DoT ) wireless planning and coordination wing has ‘not been able to perform its role as spectrum planner to the desired level’, wants to give this task to the Centre for Excellence for Radio Spectrum Engineering and Management (CERSEM), which is in the process of being set up.
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