To make way for the new the old has to be weaned off. New ways of content dissemination need to be explored and adapted to optimally utilize the prized resources. Spectrum being one of them. Talking about Natural Resource hardly brings attention to spectrum. But, telco revolution seen in the country and other parts of the developing world over last few decades has highlight the crucial nature of this national resource. Defining precious and priceless in the current world does culminates to spectrum, a natural resource available, exploited and in demand. And there is dearth of this exquisite resource. The haves and the have-nots both trying to secure and acquire depending on their position.
The backbone of the communication industry, spectrum plays an important role as basic support for infrastructure building and investment. Demand is ever increasing and the availability for use is highly restricted especially when talked in the context of free space. The wired backbone can support distribution from a central hub to downstream nodal hubs over the Optical fibres, or even to subscriber base but the real context is the distribution of Radio frequency spectrum in free space, the mobile cellular network, the terrestrial broadcast of Radio & Television services, satellite connectivity and direct to home.
The technological advancement which is in dire need of this resource has also provided the solution for optimum utilization of spectrum – and that is to Go Digital! Broadcast technology has also adapted itself by going Digital. The once analogy Cable TV network has now become Digital with not only the quality enhancement but also statistics generation for the subscriber base and their preferences. Television broadcasters have gone digital with the Direct to Home(DTH) technology.
Earlier where with analog transmission a bandwidth of 36MHz was required for quality transmission of one analog channel through satellite link, the current scenario is 20 to 24 TV Channels being combined digitally in the same 36MHz spectrum bandwidth. Further for pan-India connectivity for any content the need was for a large matrix of transmitter as one TV transmitter had a coverage range of around 70 Kms.
DTH has been a major effort by the Public Broadcaster in paving way for release of the crucial resource. Old and the outdated technology also lacks the industry support. As a service to the Nation, the Analog Terrestrial Transmitters of Prasar Bharati are being switched off to not only release the much demanded spectrum but also to pave way to the regional language services availability across the footprint. Dr L Murugan, Minister of State, Information & Broadcasting has rightly stated in his tweet on the 25 successful years of TRAI “On the occasion of its silver jubilee, addressed the officials today. Elaborated upon reforms undertaken at Doordarshan and how phase-out of Analogue Terrestrial Transmitters has resulted in availability of valuable spectrum.”
Another key development in the broadcasting scenario is the launch of Digital services over the IP Network. A network which has potential to add bandwidth being rigged as a cluster of Optical Fibres and Satellites. Digital over IP has a further significance in its reach, whereas in Terrestrial relay the reach depends on the hight of the tower and the power of the transmitting setup, and in satellite relay the reach is limited to the footprint area, the reach over the IP Backbone can be considered infinite on account of its availability across the World Wide Web. And, the current initiative of the Government of India to reach one and all in India and build brand India globally with timely and accurate information dissemination, Prasar Bharati News Services & Digital Platform (PBNS) has been continuously edging towards a meaningful presence for the people of India and the global Netizens.
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