TRAI proposes public sector spectrum audit

Sector watchdog the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has proposed that the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) conduct an audit of spectrum use, to identify the frequencies being used by government departments and agencies and to ensure the airwaves are being uses efficiently. The Economic Times quotes TRAI Chairman Ram Sewak Sharma as saying: ‘In order to ensure the availability of spectrum and appropriate utilisation, the DoT should carry out studies on its usage and necessity so that various departments holding a scarce resource can use it in a right manner.’ The regulator noted that various state bodies use spectrum for FM radio, direct to home (DTH) TV, satellite and space communication, aeronautical navigation and defence communication. If these airwaves are not being used optimally and efficiently it would represent a financial loss to the government and also hinder the country’s social and economic growth, the TRAI added. The regulator is aiming to identify and potentially free up spectrum that was allocated in the past but has been left unused or under-utilised with the intention of making the frequencies available to telecom service providers.