The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has recently released its recommendations on mobile TV services. According to TRAI, one of the two following routes can be utilised for providing such services: one, using the existing telecom network with spectrum already allotted to unified access service/cable modem termination system (UAS/CMTS) licensees, two, employing a broadcasting method with separate spectrum.
In line with its draft recommendations on mobile TV, brought out in late 2007, TRAI is of the view that telecom operators having CMTS or UAS licences do not require any further licence or permission to offer mobile TV services on their own network using spectrum already allotted to them. For providing mobile TV services through the broadcasting method, however, operators need to obtain a separate licence. The recommendations provide policy guidelines for such operators. The following are the major recommendations:
Technology
The choice of broadcasting technology should be left to the service provider with the condition that the technology to be deployed for providing mobile TV should follow a standard approved by a recognised standardisation body.
In case the handset is provided by the licensee, it should be ensured that if a subscriber desires to migrate to any other operator using the same technology and standards, the subscriber should be able to do so without changing the handset.
For now, licences should be offered only for the terrestrial transmission route.
Allocation of spectrum
Apart from Doordarshan, private mobile TV operators may be assigned at least one slot of 8 MHz each for mobile TV operation in the UHF Band V from 585 MHz to 806 MHz.
For better utilisation of spectrum, the sharing of Doordarshan’s infrastructure for terrestrial transmission should be permitted on the basis of a non-discriminatory mutual agreement. Similarly, other mobile TV operators will also be obliged to offer their infrastructure for sharing.
The licences for mobile TV services should be granted through a closed tender system on the basis of one-time entry fee (OTEF) quoted by bidders.
The allocation of spectrum to mobile TV licensees should be automatic for successful bidders and should not require any further selection. Such licensees would be required to pay the usual spectrum usage charges, as stipulated by the Wireless Planning and Coordination wing.
A mobile TV licence may be made mandatory for telecom licensees (including those with UAS/CMTS licences), if such licensees wish to adopt the broadcasting technology route for offering mobile TV services. For this purpose, any telecom licensee (UAS/CMTS or any other licensee) satisfying the eligibility conditions would be permitted to participate in the bidding process.
Licensing issues
There should be a new class of service providers for the provision of mobile TV services using broadcasting technologies.
A state should be the licence area for a mobile TV terrestrial service licence. For financial and operational viability, some of the smaller states can be combined to form an appropriate licence area.
The composite foreign investment limit for mobile TV services has been pegged at 74 per cent.
The tenure of licences will be 10 years.
The licence fee will be charged at 4 per cent of gross revenue for each year or at 10 per cent of the reserve OTEF limit for the licence area, whichever is higher.
In all, TRAI is hopeful that once these recommendations are approved, it would step up competition and increase viewing choice for users.
