For new military networks
By Subhankar Kundu
The Government might compromise with its aspirations of generating multi billion dollars from 3G spectrum auction. About 80 per cent of the total revenues generated from 3G auctions will go in the setting up of alternate communications networks in the Indian defence forces.The state-run Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has already been given the contract of building the alternate communications network. BSNL will receive $3.1 billion (Rs 15,700 crore) from the defence forces for installing and maintenance it.
BSNL will get $200 million (Rs 1,077 crore) for setting up the alternative Air Force network, $1.8 billion (Rs 8,893 crore) for building similar facilities for the Army and the Navy and $1.1 billion (Rs 5,730 crore) for maintaining the infrastructure for the next 10 years.
The Group of Ministers (GoM) is set to finalise the funding amount of $3.1 billion (Rs 15,700 crore) and seek the approval of the cabinet commitee of econimic affairs(CCEA).The National Security Advisory Board said that the network should be entirely independent, with separate manpower for maintenance and operations. The defence ministry and the communications ministry have earlier agreed to release the radio frequencies from the defence forces.
But changing its line - the Army has recently said that the spectrum will be vacated for commercial use only after BSNL completes building the alternate networks for the defence forces.All current telecom services in India use 2G spectrum, but the government does not have enough to meet the demands of existing players. Moreover, the government has a shortage of 3G radio frequencies, which allow telcos to offer high-end services such as high-speed Internet.