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The Comptroller and Auditor Basic (CAG) has pulled up the telecom division for not finalising coverage on spectrum project for captive customers and flagged the absence of spectrum worth evaluation for captive customers administratively. In its report titled ‘Administration of spectrum assigned on the executive foundation to authorities departments/companies’, the CAG requested the Division of Telecom (DoT) to evaluation the spectrum pricing mechanism for captive customers to incentivise ministries, departments and companies, and for sustaining spectrum administration self-discipline.
“They might contemplate differential pricing, relying on the options and utilization of assorted spectrum bands,” the CAG mentioned in a report tabled in Parliament on Monday.
It famous that regardless of receiving a authorized opinion (July 2021) by itself reference, concerning the strategy for allotment of spectrum for captive makes use of, together with authorities departments, the division had not finalised the coverage for allotment and project of spectrum for captive makes use of/different industrial providers with the approval of the Digital Communications Fee.
The DCC is the apex physique for telecom coverage formulation.
“DoT had additionally not reviewed the pricing of spectrum assigned for captive customers administratively, on formulae foundation since 2012, although a Committee had really helpful for a periodical evaluation of the pricing coverage in 2013,” the CAG report mentioned.
There was no differential pricing for spectrum, relying on options and utilization of assorted spectrum bands assigned to customers, it noticed.
“DoT could devise a coverage on allotment and project of spectrum for captive customers/different industrial usages in alignment with statements made in NDCP 2018 (Nationwide Digital Communication Coverage) and finish adhocism in allotment of spectrum to authorities departments/ companies,” the report mentioned.
It urged that the DoT ought to set up a everlasting set-up comprising all stakeholders for a periodical evaluation of spectrum planning, availability, allotments, assignments and pricing. This may expedite selections for environment friendly administration and optimum utilisation of spectrum in India.
“They might additionally be certain that an MIS (administration info system) is put in place in DoT to get particulars of precise spectrum utilised by Authorities consumer departments and companies,” the CAG urged.
The DoT in session with all of the departments ought to take proactive measures for the finalisation of suggestions of working teams and selections of the Committee of Secretaries for reassignment, re-allotment and refarming of the spectrum.
“In pursuance of NDCP 2018, DoT could coordinate with Authorities customers to offer spectrum in substitute bands for customers in 1427-1500 MHz and 2300-2400 MHz bands, harmonisation train in 2100 MHz, sharing of spectrum in 700 MHz band as these had been recognized for IMT (Worldwide Cell Telecommunications) use and have scope for industrial utilisation of spectrum,” it mentioned.
The DoT and Railways ought to monitor the completion of LTE (Lengthy-Time period Evolution) based mostly community mission within the 700 MHz band in order that Railways vacate the spectrum within the 900 MHz band being utilized by them, and it’s made accessible for industrial utilisation.
“DoT in session with TRAI could take early motion for the public sale/ utilisation of IMT spectrum mendacity idle with them,” the report mentioned.
The Division of House (DOS) and DoT ought to work collectively to determine an appropriate expertise answer in a fashion that each providers can co-exist in necessary frequency bands.
“DoS wants to interact with consumer Departments and different potential customers at an early stage earlier than planning and launching the satellite tv for pc capability in order to minimise non-utilisation of spectrum sources,” the CAG report mentioned.
The DoS, it felt, wants to determine a mechanism for assessing and reviewing the utilisation of spectrum in all bands, notably in IMT bands and satellite tv for pc bandwidth for guaranteeing optimum and environment friendly utilisation of assigned radiowaves.
“DoS could consolidate spectrum-related info and make it accessible at a typical platform for straightforward entry and evaluation of spectrum at Company Infocom degree,” mentioned the report.
The Ministry of Dwelling Affairs ought to devise a coverage for spectrum administration amongst central armed police forces, it added.
Apart from, the DoT can be certain that public sector undertakings, comparable to ONGC and GAIL, use the assigned spectrum optimally and effectively and give up unutilised frequencies.
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