Space Department asks DoT to reserve airwaves for satellite

India's Department of Space (DoS) wants the Department of Telecom (DoT) to reserve part of spectrum in the 2.5 GHz frequency band, being used for mobile broadband, for providing satellite services, reports the PTI. DoS want the government to reserve 150 MHz in the new National Telecom Policy, which is being formulated. The portions of spectrum include those that are left with the government after the auction for mobile broadband services in May 2010. Under the new NTP being formulated, the government has proposed making available adequate spectrum in the bands 450 MHz, 700 MHz, 1800 MHz, 1910 MHz, 2.1 GHz, 2.3 GHz, 2.5 GHz and 3.5 GHz as well as those identified by the ITU for commercial mobile services. In a letter to the DoT, DoS secretary K Radhakrishnan has asked it to exclude the bands 2500-2535 MHz, 2555-2635 MHz and 2655-2690 MHz. Radhakrishnan said the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is in the process of realising the broadband satellite GSAT-11, which will provide connectivity to mainland as well as island regions. Hence, the Space Department and ISRO want DoT to include satellite-based broadband promotion in the telecommunication policy. DoS also asked DoT to incorporate promotion of satellite-based connectivity services for islands, remote regions and disaster management. The NTP is expected to be finalised in April.