The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has approached the Ministry of Defence to release 15 MHz of 3G spectrum. In 2010, Ministry of Defence had agreed to release spectrum reserved for enhanced voice-data only services which is currently being used by CDMA operators for offering high-speed telecom services.
DoT has received a proposal from the Cellular Operators Association of India suggesting exchange of 15 MHz of EVDO spectrum in the 1900-1907.5 MHz band and the 1980-1987.5 MHz of band with equal quantum of 3G spectrum in the 1939-1934 MHz of band held by defence forces currently.
The proposal, if agreed to by the Ministry of Defence, could resolve the issues regarding 3G roaming, as operators will be able to buy more spectrum and get a pan-India 3G footprint.
As part of another agreement to vacate about 65 MHz of spectrum, the Ministry of Defence has already released 10 MHz of paired spectrum for 2G services, and 20 MHz of spectrum out of the 25 MHz of spectrum for 3G services. The defence forces will be releasing the rest of the 2G and 3G spectrum following the establishment of an alternate communication network. This network is being developed by Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited in exchange of the spectrum being vacated by the Ministry of Defence. The alternate network is expected to be completed by mid of 2015.
