The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has asked the Union Cabinet to waive Rs 1200 billion spectrum charges for the spectrum used by the defence forces.
In so far, both DoT and the Ministry of Defence have failed to reach an agreement on how to divide the country’s spectrum between them. DoT was to set aside a certain amount of spectrum in most bands for the armed forces as part of a defence band, and the latter was to vacate additional spectrum for commercial telephony.
Also, a certain amount of spectrum was to be reserved for the armed forces along the international border for setting up a defence interest zone.
According to the draft Cabinet note, DoT has estimated that spectrum usage charges for the armed forces in the 2G and 3G frequency bands amounted to Rs 11.24 billion. This is for between 2004 and 2009. The charges applicable post-2009 are not included as both ministries had inked a memorandum of understanding which specified a time line for spectrum vacation by the armed forces. However, this was on the condition that DoT ensures an alternate network for the armed forces is established.
For spectrum in other bands, DoT has said that the charges for spectrum usage for the armed forces amounted to Rs 20.12 billion per annum.
