Talking Point for Secretary (T) during inauguration of workshop on Spectrum Management (29.04.2013)

My dear colleague Ms. Sadhana Dikshit Member (Fin), Sri S.C. Mishra Member (Services), Sri Anil Kaushal Member (T), Ms. Sumita Purkayastha, DG. NICF, Senior officers from DoT, Representative of Press and Media and dear friends. 

It is my pleasure to be here in this International Workshop on Spectrum Management organized by National Institute of Communication Finance. I have been told that this is a two day workshop in which Senior Officers from Finance, Accounts and Wireless wing of Deptt. of Telecom, eminent international level speaker, academicians from MDI, Gurgaon and IIT, Mumbai, Senior officers from Competition Commission of India and Telecom Regulatory Authority of India as well as Technical experts of the Spectrum Technology are participating. It is really a rare occasion where all the experts  of the relevant field are gathered hare and ready to share their knowledge and experience in the field of Spectrum Management.

Spectrum Management is the process of regulating the use of Radio Frequencies for its effective and efficient use which ultimately translates into Social benefit. Normally 3KHZ to 300 GHZ Radio Spectrum is used for Wireless Communication. With the increasing demand of Mobile Telephony and new technological innovations such as 3G and 4G Mobile Services and Wireless broadband services importance of radio Spectrum has increased.

Globally Radio Frequency Spectrum is considered as an exclusive property of the state. It is a natural resource like water, land, minerals etc. but biggest advantage of this natural resource is that it is re-usable and not exhausted like other natural resources. The purpose of Spectrum Management is to mitigate radio Spectrum pollution and maximize the benefit of usable radio Spectrum. It is important to mention here that all the available Spectrum is not usable for Wireless Communication.

I would like to mention here that International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has recognized the “sovereign right of each state to regulate its telecommunication”. Here it is worth to mention that effective and meaningful Spectrum Management requires regulation not only at National and Regional level but at Global level as well. It means unless we follow a global standard and practice in Spectrum Management it can not be used optimally.

Spectrum Auction is another area where DoT’s Account’s and Finance wing in association with wireless wing of DoT have done excellent job under the supervision and guidance of Member (Finance) Telecom Commission. I must appreciate the hard work done by the WPF wing in conducting smooth and transparent Spectrum Auction process. Now Spectrum auction has become a regular exercise.

As intimated by the DG, NICF Objective of this workshop is to provide hands on training as well as experience sharing on various critical and complex issues involved in Spectrum Management.  In this workshop not only the basic issues of Spectrum Management would be discussed but the important aspects like Spectrum Auctioning and International Experience on spectrum allocation as well as Assessment of Spectrum Charges would also be discussed.

In  this workshop participants will be given exposure to Spectrum Auctioning process, how evidence received from research helps  Policy makers in Spectrum allocation process, Economic Models for Valuing Spectrum, Spectrum Pricing, Spectrum Planning and optimum utilization of Spectrum, Regulation in Spectrum as well as Monitoring, allocation and use of Spectrum. The eminent and best available speakers on the subject (apart from our departmental officers) like Ms. Chris Perera, Sr. Director, Spectrum Policy & Regulatory Affairs, Asia-Pacific, GSMA, Dr. Rohit Prasad from MDI Gurgaon, Sri Abhay Karandidar, Professor and Head, E.E, IIT Bombay, Ms. Payal Malik, Advisor (Eco), Competition Commission of India and Sri Sudhir Gupta, Pr. Advisor, TRAI will interact with participants during the workshop with their knowledge and experience.

The workshop aim at targeting officers involved in Policy making, execution and Planning of Spectrum Management which is a valuable natural resource available with the Government and needs to be utilized, priced, valued, allotted  and  regulated in an efficient, effective, prudent and transparent manner.  

Dear Friends, Whether we are aware or not but even small children, house wife, scientists, Police, Defence everybody is user of Spectrum. Be it remote toy or remote T.V., Mobile, Wireless broadband, Cordless Phone or DTH T.V. service we are using Spectrum. Some of the spectrum are free to use where as some of them are of commercial use and liable to be charged for which government grants license.

Spectrum allocation and Spectrum Auction process is a matter of study and research. Government has collected sizable Non-Tax revenue through Spectrum uses charges and Spectrum Auction. With the increase of Licensees and with increase in demand for allocation of additional Spectrum by the Telecom operators, Deptt. of Telecom has recently decentralized the work of assessment of Spectrum uses charges. Now this work will be done by the respective Controller of Communication Accounts Offices which is the field unit of Deptt. of Telecom.

At last I must congratulate Director General of National Institute of Communication Finance and her team for organizing this Spectrum Management Workshop with International level speaker. I hope this workshop would enrich knowledge and experience to all the participants as well as speakers too. Spectrum Management being changing and challenging area, I expect from NICF to organize more such events in future also in the form of Seminar, Workshop and refresher training etc.

Thank you.