The S-Band is a part of
the electromagnetic spectrum,
and refers to radio waves with frequency of 2.5 GHz. It is being
used globally for providing mobile broadband services
using fourth generation technologies such as WiMax and Long Term Evolution
(LTE).
This frequency band is unique because it
has a substantial amount of spectrum (190 MHz) that can be put to use for
mobile services. The World Radio-Communications Conference 2000 (held under the
aegis of the International Telecommunication Union), designated the 2.5 Ghz
band for mobile services. Since then there is great demand for this spectrum
among telecom providers, fetching governments billions of dollars in auctions.
In India there is much competition for
S-Band spectrum between providers of terrestrial mobile phone service,
satellite mobile services, wireless broadband service and the Department of
Space (which needs it for radio networking,
meteorological data dissemination etc). Despite this the S-Band
Spectrum in the Antrix-Devas deal was given without auction for a nominal sum
of Rs. 1000 crore for 70 MHz, in comparison to BSNL and MTNL who were asked to
pay Rs. 12,847 crore for 20 Mhz allotted to them. (The deal was scrapped in
2011 and investigations are underway).
The Telecom Regulatory
Authority of India has sought to review the usage of this frequency band by the
incumbents (DoS was allotted 150MHz of the band in the 1980s), and refarm it
for commercial mobile services. This is required to keep the Indian telecom
industry in step with global trends, and thus maintain its viability and efficiency.
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