Trai recommends an additional 5 MHz of spectrum in the 700 MHz frequency band for improving safety and security systems for Indian Railways. It will improve passenger safety on railway tracks as well as take forward the upgradation of communication systems for the railway network. This is part of the efforts of modernization of Indian Railways’ infrastructure, especially as far as technological upgradation is concerned in the safety domain.
Why is 700 MHz Spectrum Essential for Railways?
This is an excellent frequency band because it covers a huge area. It can cover 6-10 kilometers in distance, which is a very high kind of network cover without many cell towers, and therefore 700 MHz can be brilliant for large Indian Railway cover areas in unpopulated or remote tracks of railways.
Apart from the 5 MHz assigned by Trai to Indian Railways in 2021, this recommendation will afford a robust and secure network for the applications of Indian Railways towards passenger safety. Hence, the Indian Railways will thus be having 10 MHz of the 700 MHz band that improves considerably in terms of scope and quality of operations with the addition of these extra 5 MHz.
Passenger safety and security are more important
The main objective of this spectrum allocation is to enhance the safety and security of passengers in trains. The spectrum will be used exclusively for captive use by Indian Railways; that is, it will not be used for commercial purposes but strictly for railway safety and communication. The specific applications include surveillance, emergency communication, and real-time monitoring of various train operations in order to prevent accidents and enhance overall safety.
Trai has also suggested that the price of the spectrum should be much lesser than the commercial rate. Though the 700 MHz band is sold at Rs 3,927 crore per MHz for commercial use, Indian Railways would get it at a lower price so that the railways can implement the required technologies without having too much of a burden on the finances.
Future of Railways and Spectrum 700 MHz
The fresh 5 MHz spectrum will allow Indian Railways to use new technology in its train control systems, surveillance cameras, and emergency communication channels, making the introduction of any new technologies much easier as well as safer for trains and passengers operating in remote and challenging terrain.
This move would also go well with the present initiatives of the Indian Government in terms of digitalization and modernization of transport infrastructure. This focus on safety, efficiency, and the communication system would ensure that Indian Railways would become well geared to the needs of increased passenger traffic with higher safety standards.
Spectrum Allocation Details
The 700 MHz spectrum is adjacent to the band allocated to Reliance Jio in the 2022 spectrum auctions. This will ensure that the frequency is already in use for commercial purposes and available for use by Indian Railways for non-commercial safety measures. Trai has recommended allocation of contiguous blocks of spectrum to ensure minimal disruption to ongoing networks.
However, Trai also recommended that after the network-based 4G rollout in the 700 MHz band for safety and security application, spectrum held by Indian Railways in 146-174 MHz, 400 MHz, and 900 MHz bands must be withdrawn by giving a time-bound exposure opportunity.
Other Suggestions Related to Railway Safety Infrastructure
The TRAI has also brought forward a separate set of recommendations to the table for National Capital Region Transport Corporation or the need to which they require spectrum to enable regional Rapid Transit System or the corridors. Like Indian Railways, NCRTC too needs its spectra available within this spectrum band of 700MHz spectrum for its services. Today, NCRTC is conducting eight RRTS Corridors in NCR. The first phase for this will be undertaken 350 km distance in reach.
The allocation of this spectrum will enable NCRTC to ensure efficient train control systems along its corridors, thus making the operations safer and efficient. Since these rail corridors will play a very significant role in improving urban mobility in the NCR region, high-quality communication infrastructure will be the need of the hour.
Conclusion
It is a huge step forward toward the modernization and securing of India’s rail network in terms of allocating 5 MHz more spectrum in the 700 MHz frequency band to Indian Railways. With this, the Indian government is not only upgrading the safety standards but also getting Indian Railways in good shape for the future, which would heavily rely on digital and communication technologies.
This spectrum allocation will facilitate the implementation of high safety measures for Indian Railways, thereby ensuring passengers to travel with the highest level of security. So, it will be very interesting to see how this impact improves railway operations throughout the country as the project progresses.
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