The Government of India might finally come out with Mobile TV guidelines, nearly an year after the TRAI made its last recommendations. I&B Secretary, Raghu Menon informed that the Ministry is engaged in laying down a suitable regulatory framework for private players to provide Mobile TV services. Issues related to spectrum identification within the recommended band, determination of service area licences and the number of providers, are under discussion, along with the recommendations made by the TRAI. MediaNama readers might remember that last year, in response to the I&B Ministry, on issues pertaining to Mobile TV licences, the TRAI had recommended that, among other things: - Reducing the number of circles of operations of Mobile TV to 20, combining Mumbai and Maharashtra and UP(East) and UP(West). - Not allowing a single entity to hold more than twenty five percent of the total number of permissions given in the country, in the first phase of rollout. - To let UASL/CMTS licensees (i.e. Telecom operators) bid for Mobile TV licences. - Although, the I&B Ministry wanted exclusive slots for Doordarshan and priority allocation of spectrum for Digital Terrestrial Television over other services like BWA, the TRAI suggested convergence of platforms and considering the requirement of both the telecom as well as broadcasting sectors. - Lock-in period for licensees who win, and transfer of licences only allowed after completion of roll-out obligations, which was 12 months in cities with population of more than one million and the State capitals and union territories within the license area…
