TRAI favors telcos for mobile TV bid

NEW DELHI, INDIA: Considering the proposition of better service to consumers, Telecom regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) in its recommendation on mobile TV has reiterated today that telecom service providers should be allowed to bid for mobile TV license.

“The Authority is of the view that anyone eligible including UASL and CMTS licensees can participate in the bidding process. Moreover, convergence of technologies should be encouraged, which would ultimately result in better service proposition to the subscribers,” mentioned TRAI recommendation.

Ministry of Information and broadcasting had earlier expressed that there can be issue of level playing field among bidders namely broadcasters and telecom operators.

Telecom Regulatory Authority of India in its recommendation on mobile TV has clubbed smaller states with larger ones and formed 20 circles for mobile TV license. Successful bidders will have to complete roll-out in three phases in all these circles.

In the first phase, the licensee must commence the mobile TV transmission in all cities having a population of more than one million and the state and UT capitals within the license area, within twelve months from the date of allocation of spectrum, the recommendation stated.

In the second phase, the licensee must commence the mobile TV transmission in all cities and towns having population of one lakh or above within the license area within twenty four months from the date of allocation of spectrum, it said.

In the third phase, the licensee must commence the mobile TV transmission in all the district headquarters within the license area within thirty six months from the date of allocation of spectrum.

The authority has referred census of 2001 for population in the cities.

Further, TRAI recommendation mentioned that any delay to meet the roll-out obligations should attract liquidated damages for six months and subsequent defaults should result in cancellation of licenses and withdrawal of spectrum.

However, it is not clear as to when the process of spectrum allocation will be cleared. As per TRAI's recommendation, Mobile TV service providers will be allocated one slot of 8 Mhz to provide the service. Frequency band from which this spectrum has to be allocated is yet to be discussed.

Frequency band from 585 Mhz – 806 Mhz has been identified for running mobile TV service. This band is with Doordarshan and is unutlized till date.

As per ITU, mobile services in these band are primary service. The decision on this band is yet to be taken. Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Department of Space and Wireless planning Commission, are working out a plan to earmark other frequency bands for mobile TV.

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