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| License
required to operate GPS in India |
“We
are committed to meet genuine requirements of
the GPS users” says P
K Garg, Wireless Adviser to Government
of India, Wireless Planning and Coordination (WPC)
Wing, Ministry of Communications and IT, Government
of India. Mr Garg expresses his frank opinions
on issues ranging from role and mandate of WPC
to rationale of licensing and its implementation
issues |
|
What
is the mandate and role of WPC, Ministry of Communications
and IT? |
The
Wireless Planning and Coordination (WPC) Wing of the
Ministry of Communications and IT, created in 1952,
is the national radio regulatory authority responsible
for frequency spectrum management, including wireless
licensing and caters for the needs of all wireless users
in the country, government or private, security or non-security.
It is also the national nodal agency for all matters
related to International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
and the Asia Pacific Telecommunity (APT) and is responsible
for treaty obligations on behalf of the Government of
India. It also exercises the statutory functions of
the Central Government and issues licenses to establish,
maintain and operate wireless stations as well as possess,
develop and deal in wireless equipment in the country. |
| What is the basic approach
the WPC to fulfil its mandate? |
The Radio Frequency
Spectrum and associated geostationary and other satellite
orbits are limited natural resources. Radio waves are
international in character. Since they cannot be confined
to national boundaries hence are more susceptible to
harmful interference. Like any other natural resource,
it cannot be owned but can only be shared amongst various
countries, users, technologies etc. Assignment of frequencies
is governed by international treaties formulated under
the aegis of the ITU, which are signed and ratified
by Government of India. Further, it is also subject
to various other international agreements with other
countries. The trend of modern telecommunications is
towards mobility with ever increasing data rates. Even
fixed services are using wireless technologies. This
has increased the pressure on already scarce spectrum.
Hence, there is a need for increase sharing and re-use
of all frequencies. |
Is
it true that one needs a license from WPC before using
a GPS? |
Yes, it is true.
If we go strictly by rule that exists on paper, making
a GPS operational without a license from WPC is not
allowed. However, the government is always alive to
the practical situations and requirements. For example,
the cordless phones were exempted from licensing requirements
with specified frequencies and RF power. |
Is
there a licensing requirement for the use of GPS for
Real Time Kinematic (RTK) Survey? |
When
it comes to use of radio frequency, there is a need
of license to be obtained. There are welldefined guidelines
regarding this. Such licenses also need to be renewed
annually or bi-annually. An applicant is expected to
follow the rules and regulations stipulated by the Government
of India. |
How
much time does it take to get a license from WPC? |
Generally, it
takes from four to six months. For government agencies,
it takes lesser time. Our department is also too hard
pressed on human resources as there has been a quantum
leap in the telecom segment, especially the mobile phone
companies. Just to cite an example, about 7 years back
the revenue of WPC through license fee and spectrum
charges was about Rs 250 million which has gone more
than 40 times last year. |
Can
anything be done to reduce this timeframe? |
The functions
of WPC Wing are being made automatic and on-line. This
should improve the situation. However, in many cases
the decision is not taken by the WPC alone, hence it
is bound to take some time. |
| What is the rationale behind
the licensing policy? |
The policy is
not without rationale. It is important to avoid the
harmful interference with other users and agencies. |
Is
there any mechanism available to monitor the misuse
of frequency spectrum? |
The Wireless
Monitoring Organisation (WMO), with headquarters in
New Delhi, is the field organisation of WPC Wing for
radio monitoring. It monitors the radio spectrum to
ensure its harmonious use. It has monitoring stations
of varying capabilities and coverage at 22 locations,
including one satellite monitoring facility. Certain
instances of misuse need not necessarily mean that the
law itself is irrelevant. |
Don’t
you think that such licensing has outlived its utility?
And that too under the Telegraph Act of 1885. Isn’t
that too old? |
As a regulatory
authority, we have to follow the rules. Also, ITA 1885
may appear to be old, but it is a beautiful piece of
law, which covers all forms of telecommunications and
has permitted privatization and competition whenever
required. |
Licenses
are generally associated with undesirable hassles like
corruption and laid back beauracracy. Please comment. |
We try our best
to be free from undesirable elements and practices.
There are clear guidelines and we follow them while
issuing license.In WPC, we are committed to policy of
transparency, efficiency and timely response to users.
Hence, we are in the process of automation where the
provisions will be from online submission of application
forms to the monitoring of status of any application.
We are creating a computerized database for this purpose.
This effort is time consuming as it is important that
quality of information is not compromised and data is
appropriately validated. |
Any
initiative to help the growth of positioning and navigation
technologies? |
On the part of
the WPC, we would like to support the growth of positioning
and navigation technologies. We request the users to
abide by the law of the land and on our part we are
committed that the genuine requirements of the users
would be looked into with an open mind. |
|
Mr.
P. K. Garg Wireless Adviser to the Government
of India, has 35 years of experience in various
aspects of radio frequency spectrum management
and radio communications.He heads the Wireless
Planning & Coordination (WPC) Wing of the
Ministry of Communications & IT, which is
the national spectrum management agency in India. |
He
has served the orgnaisation in different capacities,
both atheadquarters and in the field.
He holds a degree in Electronics & Communication
Engineering and is a Fellow of the Institution
of Electronics & Telecommunication Engineers
for last 20 years. He is presently a nominated
member of the IETE Council. He has also been awarded
the ‘Eminent Engineer Award’ for the
year 2003 by the Institution of Engineers, Delhi
Centre.Mr. Garg has widely traveled for participation
in various international and regional conferences,
meeting and Study programs. Since 1980, he has
taken part in various conferences and meetings
of International Telecommunication Union (ITU),
Geneva, Asia Pacific Telecommunity (APT), Bangkok,
International Telecommunication Satellite Organisation,
Washington (USA) and other international &
regional bodies connected with telecommunications.
He has chaired many committees and working groups
at international conferences. He is presently
the Vicechairman of the Special Committee on Regulatory
& Procedural Matters of the ITU Radiocommunication
sector.
Mr. Garg has served as the Senior UN & ITU
Expert in Radio Frequency Spectrum Management
in Saudi Arabia for about two years. He has also
worked with the Government of Seychelles as Senior
Technical Expert under ITEC program of Ministry
of External Affairs. |
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| July
2005 |
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