The first-ever Telecom Airwaves Spectrum Refarming Framework (TASRF) has been finalised by the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT). After extensive consultation, the Frequency Allocation Board (FAB), Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA), and industry stakeholders provided suggestions for the framework on spectrum refarming. Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunications, Syed Amin UI Haque stated that the draft has been posted on the MoITT website for public comment prior to federal cabinet approval.

According to him, frequency or airwaves spectrum refarming is a procedure that governs the redistribution of frequency bands that have historically been designated for legacy cellular services for the next generation of mobile technologies, including emerging technologies, the Internet of Things, and 5th Generation Technology for on-the-ground inclusion of the 4th Industrial Revolution.

Spectrum refarming is viewed as a potent and innovative approach to managing the spectrum dynamically so as to make it available for newer commercial applications such as 5G, the Internet of Things, broadband wireless access, and digital broadcasting, in light of the growing demand for cellular and radio communication services globally and emerging technologies, he said.

The framework will make it possible to use the available frequency spectrum for front-end and backhaul frequencies effectively, increase licensees' potential business viability, improve the quality and coverage of mobile broadband services, and use emerging technologies to generate more money for the national exchequer. The framework must give operators access to enough contiguous spectrum to allow the operation of several technologies at once in a given frequency band.

PTA/PEMRA and FAB will recommend to MoITT the need to refarm any given frequency band for effective utilisation based on global developments, including but not limited to technological trends, vendor reports, telecom operators' feedback, R&D landscape, survey reports, and most importantly, recommendations from ITU, IEEE, ETSI, 3GPP, 3GPP2, GSMA, and other standard framing bodies.

Credit : Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk