Broadcasters oppose spectrum sharing for satellite and 5G services

The letter also emphasised the possible drawbacks of giving telecom companies 300 MHz of the 3700-4200 spectrum.

The proposed distribution of India's C-band spectrum has drawn criticism from the Indian Broadcasting and Digital Foundation (IBDF). The IBDF expressed its concerns about a potential split of the 3700–4200 MHz frequency spectrum between terrestrial 5G carriers and satellite services in a letter to the Department of Telecom (DoT).

The proposal from the government has a significant flaw, according to the IBDF, which represents the nation's broadcasters. They contended that shifting Indian broadcasting from the present frequency spectrum to a higher range would interfere with receivers, particularly the low-noise blocks (LNBs), resulting in inferior satellite signals. Once 5G transmissions are added within the current C-band, this scenario could get worse.

The IBDF has voiced worries about the effects on TV channels that are already broadcasting in the 3700-3800 MHz band. Many channels, especially those reliant on GSAT satellites like GSAT-30, would cease to operate if broadcasters switched to the 4000-4200 MHz region. The broadcasting sector might be greatly impacted by this.

The letter also emphasised the possible drawbacks of giving telecom companies 300 MHz of the 3700-4200 spectrum. More than 100 TV networks that currently use this band would suffer, which would interfere with millions of viewers' ability to watch their favourite shows.

The proposed shift of more than 60 channels to safer frequency ranges over 3800 MHz has run into problems, the IBDF noted, further complicating the situation.

The difficulties and negative effects of splitting the C-band spectrum were highlighted by the IBDF's concerns. It underscores how crucial it is to properly analyse the effects on satellite services and the Indian broadcasting sector.