Lok Sabha Question No. 3197 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-16
Subject: Loon and White Space project
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: RAMACHANDRAN MULLAPPALLY, OM BIRLA, DUSHYANT SINGH, CHANDU LAL SAHU, PARASURAMAN K.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.  3197

TO BE ANSWERED ON: 16.03.2016

## LOON AND WHITE SPACE PROJECT

## 3197.   SHRI MULLAPPALLY RAMACHANDRAN:

SHRI OM BIRLA:

SHRI DUSHYANT SINGH:

SHRI CHANDU LAL SAHU:

SHRI K. PARASURAMAN:

Will the Minister of Communications & Information Technology be pleased to state:

- (a) whether Government has plans to allow Google's Project Loon and Microsoft's White Spaces project on a pilot basis;
- (b)  if so, the details thereof along with the security ramifications of such projects;
- (c)  whether  any  study  has  been  done  by  the  Government  to  present  a  cost-benefit  analysis  of such services;
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (e) the likely impact of such projects on the existing telecom operators in the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD)

(a) and (b) : Google India has approached DeitY to conduct pilot test of Project Loon in India. The matter was discussed with all stakeholders and it was concluded that frequency band 700900 MHz to be used in the pilot test of Project Loon is being used by cellular operators and if the pilot is carried out it will lead to interference with cellular transmissions. Revised proposal from Google India with change of frequency band is yet to be received. ERNET India, an autonomous organization  under  DeitY,  had  carried  out  a  pilot  testing  to  determine  whether  the  TV  White Space  Technology  is  appropriate  for  establishing  Internet  connectivity  in  Gram  Panchayat schools of remote areas.

Experimental  licences  have  been  issued  to  eight  applicants  for  carrying  out  experiments  at several  places,  using  TV  Whitespace  technology,  in  the  frequency  band  470-528  MHz.  The details of the applicant organisations and the frequency clearance given to them by this Ministry is enclosed at Annexure.

(c),  (d)  and  (e): The  cost  benefit  analysis  and  impact  on  existing  telecom  operators  becomes available at the conclusion of experiments.

********

## Annexure

H-14021/38/2016-WF Dated: 10

th March 2016

Details of Frequency clearance given by WPC Wing for grant of Experimental license to various Educational Institution/ Industrial organisations/ Government.

| Applicant organisation/ Institution   | Location                                                                                                                                   | Frequency (in MHz)         | Amount of spectrum allocated   |
|---------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------|--------------------------------|
| IIT Delhi                             | IIT Delhi campus, Hauz Khas, New Delhi                                                                                                     | 525.0 MHz                  | 5 MHz                          |
| IIT Bombay,                           | Villages of Palghar district, Maharastra (Khamloli, Haloli, Ganje,Paragaon, Manor, and Maswan)                                             | 508.0 MHz                  | 10 MHz                         |
| IIT Hyderabad                         | villages in Medak district, Telangana and Coorg, Karnataka                                                                                 | 542 to 550 MHz             | 08 MHz                         |
| ERNET                                 | Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh                                                                                                                 | 500- 510 MHz,& 518-568 MHz | 60 MHz                         |
| IIIT Bangalore                        | IIIT Bangalore campus, Hosur Road, Bangalore                                                                                               | 488 to 494 MHz             | 06 MHz                         |
| BHEL, Varanasi                        | Different locations at Varanasi (BHEL campus, Shivpur Tarna; Kashi Krishak Int college, Harhua; and Govt. Higher Secondary School, Bhatsar | 500-520 MHz                | 20 MHz                         |
| Tata Advanced Systems                 | Village Jaunti, Delhi, Geo-coordinates (28.75028oN / 76.96667oE)                                                                           | 542- 550 MHz               | 08 MHz                         |
| Collector& Magistrate, Amrawati       | Amrawati                                                                                                                                   | 505 MHz                    | 10 MHz                         |

********