In a new twist in the ongoing tussle for spectrum between the department of telecommunications (DoT) and the defence ministry, communications and IT minister A Raja has written to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) that about 60 Mhz of spectrum in different bands were lying unutilised with the defence forces. Sources said that Raja has also highlighted that as per the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885, the ownership of spectrum lies with DoT and not the defence ministry.
Raja wants that the defence forces releases the unutilized spectrum and also vacate the 45 Mhz, which was agreed upon last year for telecom services so that the spectrum crunch is solved.
Sources said that once the roadmap for spectrum release and availability is clear will only DoT finalise the 3G spectrum pricing and allocation policy. Though the 2G spectrum allocation policy is in place any changes in it would only be discussed once the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) submits its recommendations on the review of licensing norms, which is expected later this month.
Sources said that Raja has also demanded Rs 5,000 crore from the defenceministry for occupying radio waves. He is slated to meet next week the external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee and defence minister A K Antony to substantiate the claim over spectrum ownership.
The meeting assumes importance as a group of ministers, headed by Mukherjee, looking into the ways and means to vacate unutilised spectrum from defence forces and other occupants for mobile telephony use is likely to meet this month.
According to the sources, Raja will tell his cabinet colleagues to resolve the issue of ownership and release 60 Mhz of unutilised spectrum before the GoM meets.
DoT would have to negotiate for release of spectrum as defence forces have over a period of time gained a stronghold over radio waves for security purposes.