a) whether his Ministry and Ministry of Communications and I.T. have recently agreed upon to use over 200 MHz spectrum earmarked for broadcasting services;
b) if so, the details thereof alongwith the reasons therefor;
c) whether the Government has communicated the decision to International Telecommunication Union;
d) if so, the response of the International Telecommunication Union thereon; and
e) the time by which a decision is likely to be taken in the matter?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING {COL RAJYAVARDHAN RATHORE (Retd.)}
(a) to (e) : Ministry of Information and Broadcasting had conveyed its concurrence, as also agreed to by Prasar Bharati, to Department of Telecommunications’ proposal for identification of the frequency band 470-698 MHz for International Mobile Telecommunication (IMT) subject to the condition that while identifying the said frequency band for IMT in addition to the existing broadcasting band, the present and future requirements of Doordarshan and terrestrial broadcasting will be given due priority. Ministry of Communications & IT after due approval and a decision by Committee of Secretaries sent a proposal for identification of the frequency band 470-698 MHz for International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT) services for India under Agenda item 1.1 of World Radiocommunication Conference 2015 (WRC-15), of International Telecommunication Union (ITU) held at Geneva during November 2015. Ministry of Communications & IT has informed that as per the outcome of the WRC-15, this frequency band has not been identified for IMT services for India.
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