New Delhi, April 5: Broadcasters have called for the creation of an independent spectrum manager in place of the existing Wireless Planning Commission. In a presentation to convener of the sub-group on convergence, Montek Singh Ahluwalia, on Tuesday, a group of broadcasters under the aegis of the Indian Broadcasting Foundation, have highlighted the bandwidth needs of broadcasters in view of the emerging convergence scenario and have stressed the need for an independent body to settle bandwidth issues.Most broadcasters feel that spectrum management has to be independent without control of any industry. According to a senior IBF official: "Until now the telecom industry has been monopolising the issue of allocation of bandwidth".
However, over the years it will be the broadcasting community which will make maximum claims on bandwidth." Broadcasters have projected a need for at least 550MHz of Bandwidth if convergence services such as streaming video and audio are to be delivered to consumers.
Broadcasters have also called for more say in deciding the last mile issue relating to access to consumers.A presentation in this regard will be made to Information & Broadcasting Minister Arun Jaitley on Thursday.
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