India calls for effective use of spectrum

ANTALYA, Turkey: India has called upon the member states of International Telecommunication Union (ITU) to use the spectrum and satellite orbits optimally to maximise the benefits for the whole world.

Addressing the Plenipotentiary Conference of the ITU at Antalya, Turkey, D S Mathur, secretary, Department of Telecommunications, emphasised that the efficient and effective use of the scarce resources like spectrum and satellite orbits is possible only with mutual cooperation and understanding among the members states of the ITU.

Mathur said, “With the emergence of new technologies which are heavily dependent on wireless communications and with astounding growth of telecommunications services all over the world, spectrum management process has become extremely complex and intricate. It is necessary that all the spectrum and orbit users, whether government or private, work in spirit of mutual understanding and cooperation and utilise these resources in the most optimal manner.”

Highlighting the growing importance of the wireless based communication system, Mathur stated that effective and efficient use of the spectrum is pre requisite conditions to derive maximum advantage and also to bridge digital divide among the societies. This will help to achieve the objectives of the World Summit of

Information Society (WSIS).

Expressing India’s commitment to the international telecommunity, he said that "India will continue to contribute meaningfully to the ITU in future and hoped that international telecommunity will repose confidence in our spirit of cooperation and constructive work."

"The telecommunication technology is changing environment to provide most optimal and efficient solutions to various problems facing the humanity. India attaches great importance to the activities of the ITU," he added.

Elaborating the achievements in telecom sector, the Telecom secretary informed the ITU that India has one of the five largest telephone networks in the world with more than 170 million telephones and is making rapid strides to provide telephone connectivity in every nook and corner of the country.

Mathur also said that India would like to share its expertise and facilities with other countries in spirit of cooperation to ensure telecommunications for all.

"India has developed high level of technical competence and managerial skills supported by appropriate manufacturing base and training facilities. He hoped that this conference would be able to make appropriate policies to bridge digital divide in global telecommunications," he said. 

In a notable development at the Plenipotentiary Conference of the ITU, India has been elected as Chairman of the important Working Group dealing with World Summit on Information Society (WSIS) issues and the implementation of the Geneva (Phase-I) and Tunisia (Phase-II) action plans of WSIS.

© CIOL Bureau