New Delhi: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has recommended that maximum validity of spectrum assignment to public mobile radio trunking service (PMRTS) operators should be kept at five years at this stage.
The regulator, however, said in coming time, if it is observed that the service continues to have a robust demand and a strong eco-system for devices and network equipment, the government may consider renewing the spectrum assignment to such operators for a further period of maximum five years.
PMRTS is used mainly for delivering critical communications. It is widely used across critical infrastructure sectors such as manufacturing, oil and gas, mining, transportation, utilities, and emergency medical services.
The regulator said it does not agree with the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) views that that spectrum assignment on administrative basis should be issued for a maximum period of five years for all candidate services. “The Authority recommends that the maximum period of validity of spectrum assignment on administrative basis should depend upon the type of service,” Trai said in its response to DoT concerning its 2018 recommendations on spectrum allocation for PMRTS operators.
DoT had accepted some of the proposals from Trai and referred back a few options for reconsideration, including around validity of spectrum allocation. The regulator had originally proposed spectrum validity to be 20 years, however, assignment should be co-terminus with the validity of the license.
PMRTS in India is being provided through the legacy narrowband land mobile radio (LMR) systems. Such systems primarily provide voice and sometimes low-speed data. The regulator, however, said the technological landscape of critical communication services, at the global level, has changed greatly in the last seven years since 2018 when the recommendations were sent to the government.
Due to a changed scenario, the regulator has changed its earlier recommendation and suggested spectrum assignment for a period of 5 years, that can be further extended to another 5 years. While the Trai has changed its proposals, the reason for the change was technology advancement and not DoT’s view on the matter.
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The regulator, however, said in coming time, if it is observed that the service continues to have a robust demand and a strong eco-system for devices and network equipment, the government may consider renewing the spectrum assignment to such operators for a further period of maximum five years.
PMRTS is used mainly for delivering critical communications. It is widely used across critical infrastructure sectors such as manufacturing, oil and gas, mining, transportation, utilities, and emergency medical services.
The regulator said it does not agree with the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) views that that spectrum assignment on administrative basis should be issued for a maximum period of five years for all candidate services. “The Authority recommends that the maximum period of validity of spectrum assignment on administrative basis should depend upon the type of service,” Trai said in its response to DoT concerning its 2018 recommendations on spectrum allocation for PMRTS operators.
DoT had accepted some of the proposals from Trai and referred back a few options for reconsideration, including around validity of spectrum allocation. The regulator had originally proposed spectrum validity to be 20 years, however, assignment should be co-terminus with the validity of the license.
PMRTS in India is being provided through the legacy narrowband land mobile radio (LMR) systems. Such systems primarily provide voice and sometimes low-speed data. The regulator, however, said the technological landscape of critical communication services, at the global level, has changed greatly in the last seven years since 2018 when the recommendations were sent to the government.
Due to a changed scenario, the regulator has changed its earlier recommendation and suggested spectrum assignment for a period of 5 years, that can be further extended to another 5 years. While the Trai has changed its proposals, the reason for the change was technology advancement and not DoT’s view on the matter.
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