Broadcasters fear shedding spectrum to telcos for 5G companies

THE INDIAN Broadcasting Federation, the principle trade physique of TV broadcasters within the nation, has expressed issues that allocation of spectrum in bands they presently function to telecom corporations for 5G companies will severely damage the sector.
In a March 5 letter to the Cabinet Secretary, the Niti Aayog CEO, secretaries of DoT and I&B, and the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Information and Technology, IBF stated it had lately discovered the federal government was discussing the opportunity of earmarking spectrum not simply within the 3,400 MHz to three,800 MHz band, however even past 4,000 GHz for 5G companies by telecom operators.
The broadcasters had been apprehensive this may affect them immediately as they use spectrum within the 3,700 MHz to 4,200 MHz band. More than 600 licensed satellite tv for pc channels function on this band. Fearing eviction from the band they’ve been utilizing for many years, the broadcasters sought pressing intervention of the federal government.
“This step will dislodge the broadcasting sector completely,” an trade participant stated.
It stated that as per NFAP (National Frequency Allocation Plan) 2018, the three,300 MHz to three,600 MHz band was earmarked for 4G and 5G companies. It expressed concern that NFAP 2018 is now proposed to be revised post-haste to incorporate new bands for 5G use by the Wireless Planning and Coordination Wing of the DoT, whereby bands from 3,400 MHz to three,800 MHz and even past until 4,000 MHz could also be earmarked for 5G companies.

It famous that the DoT has already constituted a committee beneath the Wireless Planning and Coordination Wing (WPC) for it.
The broadcasters wrote that if any spectrum past 3,600 MHz is allotted for 5G companies, “it will lead to serious disruption of satellite services for media and broadcast in the 3,700 MHz to 4,200 MHz band”. The letter confused that “simultaneous use of the band by satellite and terrestrial 5G services is not possible”.