Lok Sabha Question No. 252 (STARRED), answered on 2015-12-16
Subject: Shortage of Spectrum
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: DHARMENDRA YADAV, V. SATHYABAMA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.252 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16 th  DECEMBER, 2015

## SHORTAGE OF SPECTRUM

## †*252. SHRI DHARMENDRA YADAV: SHRIMATI V. SATHYA BAMA:

Will  the  Minister  of  COMMUNICATIONS  AND  INFORMATION  TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  taken  cognizance  of  shortage  of  spectrum  in telecom sector in various bands;
- (b) if  so,  the  measures  taken  by  the  Government  to  make  adequate  spectrum available for telecom sector;
- (c) whether the International Telecom Union (ITU) has been urged to identify fresh data spectrum for telecom sector;
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of ITU thereon; and
- (e) whether Telecom Service Providers have requested for expansion of spectrum holding for the licenses going to expire in near future and if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) to (e) A Statement is laid on the table of the House.

## STATEMENT TO BE LAID ON THE TABLE OF THE LOK SABHA IN RESPECT OF PARTS (a) TO (e) OF LOK  SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.252 FOR 16 th DECEMBER, 2015 REGARDING 'SHORTAGE OF SPECTRUM'.

(a) & (b) The requirement of spectrum depends on various factors such as traffic pattern  in  respect  of  voice  and  data,  traffic  density,  number  of  Base  Transceiver Stations  (BTS)  and  availability  of  smart  phones,  etc.  Taking  note  of  increased  data traffic, all available spectrum, including spectrum released by Defence in various bands for  telecom  access  services  had  been  put  for  auction  conducted  from  time  to  time, which has increased the availability of spectrum with the Telecom Service Providers.

(c)  & (d) The Indian Administration had proposed identification of certain additional  frequency  bands  for  International  Mobile  Telecommunications  (IMT)  at International Telecommunication Union's World Radiocommunication Conference 2015 held during November, 2015 at Geneva. Many of the proposed bands, namely 1427 1452 MHz, 1492-1518 MHz, 1452 - 1492 MHz, 3300 - 3400 MHz and 3400 - 3600 MHz, have been identified with associated regulatory provisions by the Conference for use by the IMT.

(e) The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) has sent a communication in October, 2015 mentioning the need to make more spectrum available in various bands to  meet  the  increasing  data  requirement  and  quality  of  service  expectations  of subscribers. Further the COAI has requested for auction of sufficient spectrum in 2100 MHz, harmonisation and auction of 1800 MHz band as well as auction of 2300 MHz, 2500 MHz  and spectrum becoming available due to expiry of licenses upto September/October, 2017.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has already been requested to provide  recommendations for  applicable  reserve  price  for  auction  of  spectrum  in  700 MHz, 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2300 MHz and 2500 MHz bands. After examining and taking decisions on TRAI recommendations, auction of spectrum will be conducted.

************