(a) whether Government has plans to allow Google’s Project Loon and Microsoft’s White Spaces project on a pilot basis;
(b) if so, the details thereof along with the security ramifications of such projects;
(c) whether any study has been done by the Government to present a cost-benefit analysis of such services;
(d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
(e) the likely impact of such projects on the existing telecom operators in the country?
(a) and (b) : Google India has approached DeitY to conduct pilot test of Project Loon in India. The matter was discussed with all stakeholders and it was concluded that frequency band 700-900 MHz to be used in the pilot test of Project Loon is being used by cellular operators and if the pilot is carried out it will lead to interference with cellular transmissions. Revised proposal from Google India with change of frequency band is yet to be received. ERNET India, an autonomous organization under DeitY, had carried out a pilot testing to determine whether the TV White Space Technology is appropriate for establishing Internet connectivity in Gram Panchayat schools of remote areas.
Experimental licences have been issued to eight applicants for carrying out experiments at several places, using TV Whitespace technology, in the frequency band 470-528 MHz. The details of the applicant organisations and the frequency clearance given to them by this Ministry is enclosed at Annexure.
(c), (d) and (e): The cost benefit analysis and impact on existing telecom operators becomes available at the conclusion of experiments.
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Annexure
H-14021/38/2016-WF Dated: 10th March 2016
Details of Frequency clearance given by WPC Wing for grant of Experimental license to various Educational Institution/ Industrial organisations/ Government.
Applicant organisation/ Institution Location Frequency (in MHz) Amount of spectrum allocated
IIT Delhi IIT Delhi campus, Hauz Khas, New Delhi 525.0 MHz 5 MHz
IIT Bombay, Villages of Palghar district, Maharastra (Khamloli, Haloli, Ganje,Paragaon, Manor, and Maswan) 508.0 MHz 10 MHz
IIT Hyderabad villages in Medak district, Telangana and Coorg, Karnataka 542 to 550 MHz 08 MHz
ERNET Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh 500- 510 MHz, &
518-568 MHz 60 MHz
IIIT Bangalore IIIT Bangalore campus, Hosur Road, Bangalore 488 to 494 MHz 06 MHz
BHEL, Varanasi Different locations at Varanasi (BHEL campus, Shivpur Tarna; Kashi Krishak Int college, Harhua; and Govt. Higher Secondary School, Bhatsar 500-520 MHz 20 MHz
Tata Advanced Systems Village Jaunti, Delhi, Geo-coordinates (28.75028oN / 76.96667oE) 542- 550 MHz 08 MHz
Collector & Magistrate, Amrawati Amrawati 505 MHz 10 MHz
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