New Delhi: The Telecom Ministry had opposed the S-band spectrum deal between Devas Multimedia and Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) commercial arm Antrix in 2007, two years before ISRO asked for a review. In an exclusive interview to Network18, Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal said ISRO had no power to allocate spectrum.
"How can they handover the current spectrum which is to be handed over by the Dot? Spectrum allocation is done by our department. The DoT put it on record that TRAI recommendations are that other than 800-900 and 1800 spectrum, everything has to be auctioned. Even in 2007 it was opposed and Department of Space itself in 2010 wanted a cancellation of contract," Sibal said.
The Antrix-Devas lease agreement on G-SAT-6 and 6A will take away most of the total S-band spectrum available.
Legal opinion indicates it would have been difficult for the Indian Space Research Organisation to annul the contract with Antrix Devas on its own.
It also suggested that instead of the Department of Space taking a decision to terminate the contract, it would be more prudent for the Government of India to take a decision, as a matter policy, in exercise of its executive power, a policy decision having the seal and approval of the Cabinet and duly gazetted as per the Business Rules of the Government of India.
The contract was signed in 2005, sent for a review in 2009 and in 2010 it was decided it will be annulled. But that contract still hasn't been terminated.
S-band has massive commercial value in mobile telephony and also known as 2.5 GHz band used in 4G mobile technology like WiMax and LTE. The S-band spectrum is usually auctioned globally.
Sibal's statement leaves some questions unanswered - who decides S-band allocation and if Sibal says they objected in 2007, why ISRO said they came to know only in 2009?
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