In Brief: India to release more wireless spectrum

India plans to release an additional 45 Megahertz of wireless bandwidth to civilian use in the coming months.

The communications spectrum will be vacated by defense agencies, which will switch over to a fiber-optic network that is considered to be more efficient than the microwave transmissions currently being used by the military, The Telegraph reported Thursday.

Indian telecoms have been clamoring for the release of new spectrum to accommodate booming demand for wireless communications. The new bandwidth will be allocated to mobile-phone operators and eventually for third-generation wireless services.

The move by the Department of Telecommunications is said to be an interim step to fill the spectrum need pending a longer-term deal on shifting defense bandwidth to the civilian sector.

Copyright 2006 by United Press International

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