1.1. Spectrum Management is the combination of administrative and technical procedures necessary to ensure the efficient operation of radio communication services. Therefore, efficient spectrum management needs to be the art and science of carefully planning spectrum allocation in a coordinated manner without compromising national interests and then speedily and efficiently assigning frequencies for the benefit of users at large and with minimum scope of harmful interference.

1.2. Radio Frequency Spectrum and satellite orbits including geostationary satellite orbits are scarce natural resource, susceptible to harmful interference and is international in character since radio waves cannot be confined to national boundaries. Like any other natural resource it cannot be owned but shared amongst various countries, services, users, technologies, etc. Assignment of frequencies is governed by international treaty formulated under the aegis of International Telecommunication Union (ITU), which is signed and ratified by Government of India. Further, this is also subject to various other international agreements entered into with other countries. In accordance with international treaty all frequency bands are shared by all countries for different types of radio communication services and there are no exclusive frequency allocations for a particular service, country, user or organisation.

1.3. Accordingly, the frequencies are shared by various organisations like Defence, Police, Intelligence and other Security agencies, Public Telecommunications, Broadcasting, Railways, Public Utility Organisations, Oil and Electricity Grids, Atomic Energy, Mining and Steel, Shipping and Airlines, and so on, for variety of applications including aeronautical and maritime safety communications, radars, seismic surveys, rocket and satellite launching, earth exploration, natural calamities forecasting etc. A frequency which is being used in one place by private operator may be used by a Government agency for some other purpose in another place leading to the frequency reuse on spatial basis.

1.4. With the proliferation of new technologies being inducted in to the country, the demand on spectrum by users has increased manifold. Due to inadequate budget, cumbersome procedures, lack of automation, non availability of data bases, lack of networking and unresponsive procedures, the present arrangement and practices of allocating spectrum being followed by WPC is unable to keep pace with the best international standards and practices being followed. These aspects need immediate correction in the Indian context.

1.5. Based on the recommendations of the Group on Telecommunications (GoT) constituted by the Prime Minister, a ‘Spectrum Management Committee’ was constituted under an order from the Prime Minister’s office dated 16 Dec 98 comprising of the following :-

(a) Lt Gen Prakash Gokarn, AVSM, Signal Officer-in-Chief (SO-in-C).

(b) Dr. N Seshagiri, Special Secretary, Planning Commission & Director General, National Informatics Centre (NIC).

(c) Shri R N Agarwal, Wireless Adviser to the Government of India (WA).

(d) Air Cmde S K Chakravarti, Director, Joint Communication Electronic Staff (JCES).

1.6. The Spectrum Management Committee has been given the following Terms of Reference :-

(a) To review the present practice and procedures in regard to spectrum allocation and suggest means for optimising its utilisation, by treating spectrum as a national asset.

(b) To evaluate the extent to which, based on alternative demands, increased spectrum can be made available for supporting Government’s new Telecommunication Policy to achieve high teledensity with enhanced competition.

(c) To match the country’s spectrum policy with best international practices and the requirements of the ITU.

(d) To assess the opportunity cost for effecting efficient spectrum utilisation.

(e) To suggest an orderly transition path along with likely cost as well as suggestions for meeting them over a medium term.

1.7. The Spectrum Management Committee was required to submit the recommendations to the Group on Telecommunications by 24 Dec 98.

1.8. Consequent to this notification, besides perusal of the documents related to GoT conferences held so far, the Committee members held discussion with technical representatives of commercial operators, DoT officials and industry representatives and defence personnel to arrive at the scope, aim, technological path, approach and methodology so as to resolve the terms of reference. The discussions involved the existing and futuristic technology vis-a-vis spectral requirements to cater to the increased teledensity and enhanced competition amongst the public telecommunication operators. The list of specialists consulted is at Appendix A. The joint vision of telecommunication industry i.e. private sector (InGoT & CTIA) and that of DoT are attached at Appendices B and C respectively. These are perceptions of commercial operators and have been taken into account during the Committee’s deliberations while reconciling them with non-commercial and national imperatives.

1.9. Defence forces employ a wide variety of equipment to meet national defence concerns. Development and induction of equipment for security forces is an expensive and long drawn process. For a particular allocated spectrum band it is designed and manufactured after several years of R&D effort. When a new band is allocated, the equipment has to be redesigned based on further R&D effort for several more years. The cost implications for such relocation would be exhorbitant and change over time consuming, as communication networks of defence agencies are very large. Relocation/vacation of spectrum already in use by security agencies is not cost effective, viable and practicable.

1.10. Defence has always believed in the spirit of cooperation and mutual understanding while coordinating a large number spectrum requirements with a number of government and private telecommunication networks. Moreover, in the NFAP review meetings a large number of frequencies had been coordinated in the frequency band in which the security agencies operate. Being a limited resource, spectrum has been perceived to be shared by one and all protecting security concerns. Therefore, every system has to exist on the basis of sharing, accommodation, coordination and coexistence where ever feasible on case by case basis which is the fundamental principle of spectrum management the world over. While making NFAP 2000, WPC will need to take these factors into account. As per international practice, the existing frequencies assigned are protected and transition periods are extremely long which take into account life of equipment, availability of new technologies for replacements, national policies and priorities and other related factors including cost implications. Alternative allocations are made, keeping in mind the entire strategic perspective, political imperatives, security equipment procurement policies and R&D strengths. A new family of equipment can be purchased/inducted over a period of 10-20 years which will need to be compatible with the existing equipment till transition/migration is completed.

1.11. In the absence of an existing spectrum management policy or a spectrum related technology path profile/road map, to formulate a comprehensive spectrum management policy without impacting on our security concerns and economic interests and the limited time available, the Committee, has set the following guidelines :-