DoT has reportedly rejected the terms and conditions laid down by the defence ministry for spectrum vacation, and has refused to sign the related memorandum of understanding (MoU). The new demands made by the defence ministry include reduction in spectrum charges payable by the armed forces, and DoT taking care of the armed forces’ fibre optic network for 10 years. The defence ministry also wants 60 per cent of mobile spectrum bands to be reserved as defence band. The draft agreed upon earlier required DoT to set up a dedicated fibre optic network for the defence forces at an estimated cost of Rs 88.93 billion within a three-year timeframe. The defence ministry was required to release 10 MHz while signing the MoU and another 5 MHz on placing the supply order.
