Ram, that is a good suggestion, good thought, timely one. If Community Radio
movement is a part of government's development and empowerment agenda, CR
should be allocated not just a certain number of frequencies, but a certain
specturm.
On second thought, I hope that specturm range would not be between 107.2-108
MHz, nor be 87.5 to 88.2Mhz, which other players would scorn ! A slightly
better, stronger & less-intrusion-free spectrum would probably strengthen the
Government's agenda, if there is one!
---
Rev Dr Richard Rego SJ
Director, Community Radio SARANG 107.8FM
Assoc. Prof., MCMS
Dept of Mass Communication
St Aloysius College; P.B. 720
Mangalore - 575003.
www.richardrego.wordpress.com
www.staloysiuscollege.wordpress.com
www.sarang.org.in
+919448546425 (pers.)
0824-2449706. (Res)
--- On Fri, 29/6/12, ram bhat <[email protected]> wrote:
From: ram bhat <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [cr-india] AIR demands more spectrum for setting up 385 new FM
transmitters
To: "sajan venniyoor" <[email protected]>
Cc: "CR India" <[email protected]>
Date: Friday, 29 June, 2012, 3:08
It's interesting that there are three different systems of spectrum allocation
for three different sectors of FM
AIR - they seem to have 3 MHz reserved (100-103.7)CR - Seems to be limited to 3
frequencies per license area/circle
Pvt FM - I think its one frequency per license area per entity? (not sure)
I don't think there is a standard on this, but perhaps we need to think through
whether we should be arguing for an allocation system in terms of reserving the
amount of spectrum, like AIR (say 5-7 MHz). Or are we better off in terms of
reserving the number of frequencies per license area/circle?
Maybe worth doing some comparative studies on this point as well.
best,Ram
On Tue, Jun 26, 2012 at 9:34 PM, sajan venniyoor <[email protected]> wrote:
I don't get this. AIR owns a substantial chunk of the available FM frequencies,
100 MHz to 103.7 MHz being exclusively reserved for the state broadcaster. I
can't do the math, but let's assume that some 7 - 8 FM channels can be packed
into that band at, say, 400 kHz channel separation. So, unless AIR plans to set
up all the 385 new FM transmitters in the same place, ha ha, what exactly is
the problem? AIR doesn't have 7 FM channels even in a city like Delhi.
Incidentally, private FM networks use the same frequency for all their
stations, over 45 each in the case of Big FM (92.7 MHz) and Red FM (93.5 MHz).
So do most Community Radio stations, on 90.4 MHz., which is fine as long as you
maintain a reasonable distance between two stations. Most AIR FM transmitters
radiate 10 kW, but India is a pretty big country.
I think AIR just hates to repeat a frequency. After having monopolized the
spectrum for so long, it would be so déclassé.
Sajan
AIR gets under five MHz spectrum allocation for FM services
RadioandMusic.com | 25 Jun 2012
NEW DELHI: All India Radio, which has a spectrum of just 4.7 MHz exclusively
reserved for its FM services will need more spectrum for setting up 385 new FM
transmitters in the country under the 12th Plan.
Information and Broadcasting Ministry sources told Radioandmusic.com that only
100 to 103.7 was presently reserved exclusively for FM broadcasting services by
AIR. The broadcaster would need the additional spectrum for increasing the FM
coverage to 90 per cent population.
At present, AIR FM reaches out to 41.43 per cent population and 29.18 per cent
area. This is part of the total AIR coverage of 91.87 per cent area and 99.19
per cent population. Even prior to the 12th plan scheme, FM transmitters of
varying capacities are being installed in 224 more places throughout the
country by AIR, apart from forty MW transmitters. This will take the coverage
to 38.75 per cent area and 53.53 per cent population including villages and
hamlets.
In contracts, 103.7 - 108 MHz and 91.5 MHz to 95 MHz are exclusively reserved
for expansion of the private sector FM services in the country.
Sources said that while 87 to 91.5 MHz and 95 to 100 MHz are shared between
Fixed/Mobile and FM broadcasting services, Fixed/Mobile Services have priority
over FM broadcasting services.
Meanwhile, 531-1602 kHz (Medium Frequency) is an exclusive band for radio
broadcasting according to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). AIR
gets allocation for Medium Wave radio services. Furthermore, 3-26 MHz (High
Frequency) is an exclusive band for radio broadcasting according to the ITU and
AIR gets allocation for Short Wave radio services.
In addition, AIR is also using the INSAT satellites for linking/feeding of
programmes to various stations in the country through S-Band: 2550-2590 MHz
(Transponder S-1); 2590-2630 MHz ((Transponder S-2); and C-Band : 4105-4145 MHz.
The sources said the assessment of spectrum requirement for broadcasting and
radio is done by Wireless Planning Coordination Wing (WPC) of the Department of
Telecom through a Committee under the chairmanship of Wireless Advisor while
drawing up of National Frequency Allocation Plan. The NFAP 2011 is the latest
frequency allocation plan.
http://www.radioandmusic.com/content/editorial/news/air-gets-under-five-mhz-spectrum-allocation-for-fm-services
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