The Ministry is still busy laying down a suitable policy framework for enabling private players to provide mobile TV services, although it has been one of the 65 progrmmes to be executed during the 11th Plan period, which is in its terminal year and due to end on March 31, 2012.

The policy frame, now underway, would be based on the recommendations of TRAI and in consultation with the stakeholders. The recommendations of TRAI include the type of technology to be used, the licence area, allocation of spectrum, tenure of licence, cross-holding restrictions, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) limits, content regulation mechanism and other related issues.

According to official sources, the Government is learnt to have accepted broad recommendations of TRAI for introduction of Mobile TV in India. Still the finalisation of Mobile TV is hanging fire for want of availability of 96 MHz in the UHF Band V (585-806 MHz). It is learnt further that initially TRAI recommended UHF Band V (585-806 MHz) for Mobile TV services. But its subsequent recommendation on Spectrum Management and Licensing Framework of May 11, 2010, allocated UHF Band (585-698 MHz) for broadcasting services that included Mobile TV with remaining frequency in Band V for IMT applications. It is also learnt that spectrum requirement for Doordarshan for its digitization processes is also to be met within this Band. It is in this context that there is a constraint of sufficient spectrum for Mobile TV. The Ministry has taken up the matter with Department of Telecommunications (DOT). This has obviously delayed fructification of Mobile TV services. Added to this, issues like determining the service area of licences and number of service providers, licences and roll out obligations are also under finalisation, the sources revealed.

Be that as it may, introduction of Mobile TV services hinges on availability of adequate spectrum and resolution of related issues. Besides, Mobile TV services will be e-auctioned to service providers in keeping with the decision of the Group of Ministers (GOM) on FM Phase- 111 e-auction methology as well as on 3-G auction to ensure transparency, to which TRAI has concurred.

Mobile TV will provide free, live and subscription based premium channels on hand held devices like smart phones and tablets. It will also have Android, iPhone; Blackberry and other market applications based software. It will be a pay TV service broadcast on mobile phone networks or received free-to-air via terrestrial television stations from either regular broadcast or a special mobile TV transmission format. Some mobile TVs can also download television shows from the Internet including recorded TV programmes and podcasts, which are downloaded or stored on the mobile device for later viewing.

All policy issues like identification and allocation of spectrum for mobile TV operators, determining the service areas of licences and number of service providers or licences in each service area and other related issues call for resolving with Department of Telecommunications to finalise the policy for an early introduction of Mobile TV in the country.

Introduction of Mobile TV will revolutionise the reach out and accessibility of TV channels to every nooks and corners across the country, like never before or like mobile FM radio, for news, entertainment and financial information. This together with penetration of Internet in the country will usher India in a meaningful knowledge society based on knowledge economy and integrate the nation further as an effective partner in the globalised world economy.