Indiantelevision.com's > Digital Edge > No separate license needed by spectrum users to provide IPTV services

Indiantelevision.com's Digital Edge

No separate license needed by spectrum users to provide IPTV services

Indiantelevision.com Team

(18 March 2008 12:30 pm)

NEW DELHI: Unified Access Services (UAS) licence or Cellular Mobile Telecom Services (CMTS) licence as well as registered Cable TV operators can provide IPTV services without requiring any further licence subject to certain conditions.

The Communications and Information Technology has given clarifications to the Finance ministry about the usage of dual technology spectrum both for telecom services as well as registered Cable TV operators who can provide IPTV services.

The Finance ministry had raised some queries on issues about use of spectrum under the existing telecom access services licences.

Minister of State for Communications and Information Technology Shakeel Ahmad told Parliament that the “Committee on allocation of spectrum in a practicable and scientific manner” had recommended spectrum to the CMTS/UAS licensees to be allotted under the relevant provisions of their licence agreement and eligibility criteria for additional spectrum, subject to availability.

The present criteria for allocation of additional spectrum has been issued after review in January 2008. The spectrum is allocated on first-come-first-served basis

The service providers pay spectrum charges as a percentage/share of their Adjusted Gross Revenue, which increases with larger amount of spectrum with a service provider.

The Government’s decision on the Committee report has been conveyed to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Meanwhile, the ministry has also clarified some doubts in this regard raised by the Central Vigilance Commission.