With the guard band between the 5G telecom and broadcast companies narrowing sharply, the broadcasters are citing a number of incidents of “disruptions” amid considerations over attainable interference and potential outages as soon as full-scale 5G companies are launched throughout the nation. The broadcasting trade has despatched in representations to the federal government on this regard, citing earlier studies of service disruptions by operators in locations, resembling Tamil Nadu and elements of West Bengal.
Broadcasters had earlier advised the federal government that they’d require a minimal guard band of 100 MHz from the 3600 MHz frequency band and begin their companies from 3700 MHz. “The 100 MHz guard band is completely essential for the broadcasting trade. It offers us sufficient cushion to keep away from any interference by telecom indicators and ensures that our companies preserve operating unhindered,” an government from the broadcasting trade mentioned, requesting anonymity.
Amitabh Kumar, Head of Know-how & Broadcasting at Zee Community, mentioned, “Satellites use the frequency of 3700-4200 for broadcasting. Earlier than the 5G companies started, your entire spectrum between 3600 Mhz and 3700 was left open as guard band.” However the current 5G allocation, he added, stretches as much as 3670 Mhz. Now, it has been left to the distribution platform operators (DPOs) to take care that they’re sufficiently protected against the interferences from the 5G companies because the mid-band transmissions are very near the downlink frequencies, mentioned Rajiv Khattar, former President of Tasks at Dish TV. Presently, the telecom firms have been given frequencies within the vary of 3630 Mhz, and shortly frequencies as much as 3670 can be used for the 5G companies. The downlink of the TV indicators begins at 3700 Mhz, so the chance of interferences is excessive, Khattar added.
Bandpass filters are a crucial machine to mitigate the chance of interference. The Telecom Engineering Consultants, which is the technical wing of the Division of Telecom (DoT), has launched the generic specs of the bandpass filters that can assist deal with attainable interferences.
However presently, there isn’t a indigenous producer of bandpass filters and the demand must be fulfilled by imports. It is going to be nicely value it if the federal government extends some monetary incentives to DPOs from the spectrum public sale earnings within the procurement of bandpass filters, else the printed stakeholders must make substantial investments in procuring bandpass filters, Khattar says.
Not having a 100 MHz guard band might disrupt the operations of various TV channels that function under the 3800 MHz frequency band. In accordance with the Indian Broadcasting and Digital Basis (IBDF), an trade physique of broadcasters and cable TV operators, there are near 200 channels that function in that frequency vary. These embrace some channels owned by Sahara and another information channels, amongst others.
There have already been a couple of cases of service disruptions at cable TV and broadcasters’ finish as a result of interference from cellular telecommunication indicators. In December 2021, an entity known as Sai Imaginative and prescient cable community complained to the TRAI concerning interference to broadcasting indicators in C-band from 5G trials. The criticism was later forwarded to the DoT which mentioned that the entity began utilizing 5G filters to mitigate the difficulty. A broadcasting trade government mentioned there have been service disruptions skilled in some elements of West Bengal in September throughout 5G trials within the state.
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), in its ultimate suggestions earlier than the spectrum public sale, advised DoT that broadcasters ought to make do with a 30 MHz guard band in order that the frequency band between 3300 MHz to 3670 MHz might be utilised for cellular communication and 5G companies by telecom operators. It additionally argued that broadcasters might use a cavity filter on their methods to coexist with telecom companies within the mid frequency band vary.
Globally, China has restricted cellular telecommunications within the 3300-3600 MHz band, in response to a submission by the IBDF to the TRAI. In Australia, when the federal government allotted spectrum to 3700 MHz to telecom firms in 2018, “operators of TV and different C-Band companies confronted extreme disruption put up the allocation to 5G,” the IBDF mentioned. South Korea, the IBDF mentioned, is without doubt one of the international locations which has auctioned spectrum until 3700 MHz, noting that the nation doesn’t use satellite tv for pc C-Band extensively for cable and satellite tv for pc companies.
Broadcasters say that below the brand new Nationwide Frequency Allocation Plan (NFAP), the federal government has decreased the guard band between broadcasting and 5G companies opposite to their very own TEC tips and TRAI suggestions. On Might 2, IBDF
had written a letter addressed to I&B Secretary Apurva Chandra, “reiterating their considerations concerning impinging on using C-Band spectrum, particularly 3.6-4.2 GHz”.
Minimal frequency band
Not having a 100 MHz guard band might disrupt the operations of various TV channels that function under the 3800 MHz frequency band. In accordance with the Indian Broadcasting and Digital Basis, an trade physique of broadcasters , there are near 200 channels that function in that frequency vary.
Citing TRAI suggestions on 5G Auctions which have been launched on 11 April 2022, it mentioned: “TRAI in its suggestions (which inter-alia accommodates suggestions for the public sale of the 3300-3670 MHz band) has particularly outlined the actions on a part of the MIB based mostly on the realisation that the proposed public sale of the 3300-3670 MHz bands will trigger critical interference in C&S companies.”
It mentioned that the TRAI has accepted that “there can be interference within the bands of 3700-4200 MHz utilized by C&S trade; that there’s want to make use of filters… to eradicate interference; and that MIB must sensitise MSOs, DTH Operators and different C&S customers on this topic and implications.”
They mentioned the C-band spectrum is the one spectrum allotted and being utilized by the printed trade in the present day (between 3700 MHz – 4200 MHz) can be rendered incapacitated if the instantly adjoining frequencies between 3300MHz – 3670/ 3700 MHz are used for 5G.
“This has already performed out within the UAE, Singapore, EU and the US the place satellite tv for pc reception has been adversely affected as a result of 5G roll out within the adjoining frequencies,” the letter mentioned, “as a consequence, there can be enormous disruption within the cable and satellite tv for pc trade and hundreds of cable operators and hundreds of thousands of shoppers stand to be affected.”
Officers from I&B Ministry advised the Indian Categorical, “The filters will certainly be wanted with the 5G rollout. It’s incumbent upon the cable operators, MCOs and LCOs to accumulate the filters and get them put in.” The ministry provides, “This is probably not a direct requirement however going ahead, this can be required. Even Doordarshan will use the filters.”