SC TO CONSIDER CENTRE’S PLEA FOR SPECTRUM ADMINISTRATIVE ALLOCATION.
Why in the news?
The Supreme Court agrees to discuss administrative spectrum allocation following the Union government’s plea, potentially impacting distribution policies.
source:eduprep
About Supreme Court’s Decision:
- The Supreme Court has accepted the Union government’s plea to discuss the administrative allotment of certain spectrum classes, rather than using competitive auctions.
- Attorney General R. Venkataramani presented the request, emphasising the government’s role in selecting operators for distributing airwaves, a crucial but limited resource.
- The court’s acknowledgment signifies a potential shift in spectrum allocation policies, addressing concerns regarding its distribution methodology.
- The Union government contends that certain spectrum categories, particularly those serving public interest functions like security and disaster preparedness, may not be best suited for competitive auctions.
- It seeks clarification on the Supreme Court’s 2012 ruling, which mandated spectrum allocation exclusively through auctions.
What is spectrum allocation?
● Spectrum allocation involves assigning frequencies of airwaves for communication signals. ● Government owns these airwaves and auctions them to telecom companies. ● Spectrum is subdivided into bands with varying frequencies. ● Sold for a limited period, after which validity expires. |