Trai keen on audit of spectrum held by government

NEW DELHI: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) wants the government to identify spectrum being held by various departments and agencies for effective commercial application of the scarce natural resource.

“In order to ensure the availability of spectrum and appropriate utilisation, the Department of Telecom (DoT) should carry out studies on its usage and necessity so that various departments holding a scarce resource can use it in a right manner,” Trai Chairman Ram Sewak Sharma told ET.

Other than telecom services, nearly 60% of identified spectrum is held by various departments and their agencies for the use of FM radio and DTH TV, satellite and space communication, aeronautical navigation, and defence communication services.