SACFA Full
Form: Standing Advisory Committee on Radio Frequency Allocations.
A High Level Committee, SET UP under the
Ministry of Communications in the year 1966 after the dissolution
of the Radio and Cable Board (RCB) is advisory in nature and the
final responsibility for the decisions and related implementation rests with
the GOVT.
Main & Broad Functions
of SACFA
1. To make
recommendations on major frequency allocation problems requiring co-ordination
amongst various wireless users in the Country.
2. Siting
clearance of all wireless Installations in the Country.
3. Formulation
of National Frequency Allocation Plan.
4. Making
recommendations on various issues related to International
Telecommunication Union (ITU) and Asia Pacific Telecommunity (APT).
5. To sort
out the problems referred to the Committee by various wireless users.
6. Demarcation
of different cities into receiving and transmitting zones.
7. Finalising
Guidelines regarding provision of Day and Night Obstruction markings on radio
masts /towers.
8. Feasibility
of sharing of an antenna mast by more than one wireless user.
9. Discussion
and seeking solution of Interference cases of special nature/cases of anomalous
propagation intercepted by Monitoring Organisation.
10. Review of
frequencies authorised/licenses issued to various wireless users in the
country.
11. Infringement
of Wireless operations intercepted by various Wireless monitoring
stations and remedial measures taken by various wireless users.
12. Evolution
of special procedures for clearances of sites of certain services.
Procedures for siting
clearance
1. Siting clearances are necessary for all
static Wireless stations whether temporary or permanent, whether transmitting
or receiving.
2. Siting clearances are not necessary for
- All
Wireless stations which are functionally mobile.
- Stations
in the Amateur service
3. Working arrangements
1. The party desirous of applying site
clearance shall apply in the prescribed form, depending upon the category of
siting clearance to the concerned SACFA members.
2. SACFA members examine the applications according to their requirements and issues a No Objection certificate (NOC), to Secretary SACFA.
3. Members carry out detailed technical evaluation, including field surveys, at times, if in need.
4. Technical evaluation is done primarily done for –
2. SACFA members examine the applications according to their requirements and issues a No Objection certificate (NOC), to Secretary SACFA.
3. Members carry out detailed technical evaluation, including field surveys, at times, if in need.
4. Technical evaluation is done primarily done for –
Ø Aviation
Hazards
Ø Obstruction
to line of sight of existing/planned networks
Ø Interference
(EMI/EMC) to existing/proposed networks.
5. Secretary SACFA issues the final clearance
after getting NOC’s from all SACFA members
Different Siting Clearances
- Restricted
or Mast Height Clearances.
- Site
Clearance Exemption
- Full
siting Clearance
- Additional
Antenna Clearance.
Mast Height Clearance can
be obtained for
Stations whose mast/tower height do not exceed 30
meters above ground level provided
1. HF
stations with power output 125 W or less
1. VHF
stations below 174 MHz with power output of 50 W or less except broadcast
stations
2. VHF
stations in the band 174-230 MHz with an output power upto 25
watts except broadcast stations
3. Broadcast
stations in the band 30-230 MHz with an output power upto 100 watts
4. VHF/UHF
stations below 608 MHz with a power output upto 10 watts
Application for this type of clearance in
form WPC-S1 are to be forwarded to SACFA members.
Site Clearance Exemption is
for
1. Mast
Height cases with following conditions are exempted from Mast Height
clearances.
1. Antenna
mast installed on roof of a building.
2. Mast
height on roof top not more than 3 meters
3. Site at
least 3 Kms away from the nearest Airport.
Applications form WPC-S1 to
be forwarded to Secretary, SACFA for this category.
Full Site Clearance is
required for
1. HF
Stations with Power Output more than 125 watts.
1. VHF
stations below 174 MHz with Power Output > 50 watts.
2. Broadcasting
Stations in the band 30-230 MHz with Power Output > 100 watts.
3. UHF
stations with Power Output > 10 W
4. Station
in Microwave band, Line of sight Radio relay systems.
5. Radar
stations, space satellite communications system, Radio Navigation and Radio
location system.
6. Receiving
stations in services like space research, radio Astronomy.
7. Any other
change in existing parameters other than reduction in power & mast height
of the approved parameters.
8. Applications form WPC-S2 to
be forwarded to members as per list in Annexure-II.
Additional Antenna
Clearance for
Antenna which are to be installed in the
existing mast - already cleared by SACFA.
Applications form WPC-S3 to
be forwarded to SACFA members as per Annexure-III for this category.
Special Procedures for
certain types of Wireless Stations.
1. V-SAT/Micro-Earth
Station in C band, extended C-band & Ku band with power restricted to 5 W
and with a maximum Antenna size 3.8 m
2. Procedures
in respect of sites of software units and for last mile connectivity for sites
of Internet services in the frequency band 2.4-2.4835 GHz using spread spectrum
techniques with maximum E.I.R.P of 4 W.
1. Value
added Services.
2. MARR
V-Sat of antenna Dia up to
3.8 m
Exemption Category:
Siting clearance exempted for antenna height of
4 m above ground level (AGL), & ³ 7 Km from airport reference point (ARP).
Mast Height Category
1. For
antenna height between 4 m and 20 m AGL, or antenna installed on top of an
existing building, irrespective of its height, clearances has to be obtained
from Army, Air and Naval Hqrs, JCES and AAI.
2. Applications in
WPC S-4. to be circulated by the applicant to the above organisations with a
copy to Secretary SACFA
3. Clearance
needed from Army,Air and Navy Headquarters; JCES and AAI under Mast Height
category.
4. SACFA
secretariat will issue a formal site clearance after receipt a NOC from the
above agencies. However, for a distance of more than 7 KM from ARP and antenna
height less than 20 m (inclusive height of the building), NOC has to be
obtained only from AAI.
Full siting category
1. For
antenna height more than 20 m AGL, irrespective of whether the antenna is
installed on ground or on roof top, the cases will be treated under full siting
procedures of SACFA
2. Applications form WPC-S4 to
be forwarded to SACFA members as per Annexure-III.
Procedures in respect of
sites of software units and for last mile connectivity for sites of Internet
services in the frequency band 2.4-2.4835 GHz using spread spectrum techniques
with maximum E.I.R.P of 4 W.
= application need to be
circulated to the SACFA members in application form WPC S-2
= Site cleared on receipt of NOC from AAI
& Air Hqrs within 6 weeks. Member(s) having any objection may indicate the
same to Secretary (SACFA) within this time
= In case of interference to the existing
users from software units, immediate remedial action should be taken; otherwise
operation has to be stopped.
= Applications form WPC-S2 to
be forwarded to SACFA members as per list at Annexure II.
Sites of Value added
Services
Procedures
1. Applicant
permitted to apply for frequency assignment and site clearance
simultaneously.
2. Applicant
must ensure all SACFA members receive their siting applications in
time.
3. Applicant
must select more than 1 site for base station & discuss with AAI, Air &
Naval Hqs before formally filing applications.
4. SACFA
members to forward their comments/clearances to Secretary, SACFA within 8 weeks
from date of circulation.
5. Secretary,
SACFA will convene meeting from time to time for expeditious clearance of
sites.
6. Applicant
will forward a copy of the “agreement letter” issued by LR section, WPC to
Secretary, SACFA. SACFA will thereafter clear the site provided all the SACFA
members have cleared the site.
MARR
1. Frequency Band of Operation
1. 146.45 –
147.95 MHz
2. 151.5 –
153 MHz
3. 164.5 –
166.5 MHz
4. 171 – 173 MHz
5. Power
Output 5 Watts
2. Antenna Height:
a. Base Station: 50 meters
b. Subscriber Station: 15 meters
1. Base
Station with above parameters would be considered under Mast height Clearance
Procedure with NIB/NPB.
1. Subscribers
station considered under exemption category provided
2. proposed
site is located at a distance of ³ 3 km from the boundary
/outer fencing of an aerodome and from any navigational aid/radar.
3. Top
elevation (Mast height + site elevation) of the proposed mast did not exceed 100
feet above ARP elevation of the nearest aerodome.
4. Second
Harmonic radiation should be suppressed to –50 dB.
5. MARR
stations of DOT would not be installed around Narayangaon, Pune (19°05’30”N,
74°02’53”E)
6. within 65
Kms in frequency band 151.5 – 152 MHz
7. within
400 Kms I frequency band 152 – 153 MHz
8. DOT would
take necessary measures for protection of existing RF 1 sensitive radio
installation of DOS.
9. Normal
Procedure of siting clearance in vogue would be followed
10. For all
subscriber stations within 100 Kms of national boundary of the
country with minimum use of frequency band 151.5 – 153 MHz.
11. For all
stations not covered as stated above.
Guidelines for filing Site
Applications
Necessary information may be furnished keeping
in view
1. Geo-Coordinates
of the site in 6 digits.
2. Height of
the site AMSL should be obtained from Survey of India except in the case of
additional antenna category for which AAI clearance is needed.
3. Name of
the nearest airport and it’s distance from the site.
4. For site
within 5 Km from airport, site map to be authenticated by either AAI or
municipal/town bodies etc.
5. The map
should be of scale 1cm=1km or nearest & should cover 12 Km radius from the
site and should mark scale location name and geo-coordinates of the site.
6. contain
at least 2 parallel lines of latitude and longitude.
7. Geo-Coordinates
on the map should be authenticated by applicant himself.
8. Applications
hard copy along with soft copy on a floppy of 3.5” be submitted for
examination, verification and issue of ID No’s to SACFA Secretariat.
9. Not more
than 5 copies should be submitted in 1 bunch.
10. Separate
applications for different freq. bands/sites.
11. After
obtaining ID’s, siting application is to be circulated as per list applicable
to each category of siting clearance
12. Applications
for additional antenna category need to be circulated to all members of SACFA
but NOC’s from DD, Army HQ, JCES & DOS are necessary for approval of site.
13. For Mast
Height Clearance, applications to be sent to the members as listed in Annexure
IV
14. Copy of
the agreement letter assigning the frequencies from WPC should be attached with
application.
15. Copy of
DOT’s license agreement may also be endorsed in case of value added service.
SACFA Application Forms
1. Mast
height Clearance
4 WPC S-1
1. Site
Clearance Exemption 4 WPC S-1
2. Full Site
Clearance 4 WPC S-2
3. Additional
Antenna Clearance 4 WPC S-3
4. Mast
Height Clearance V-Sat 4 WPC S-4
Day and Night Obstruction
Markings
Day
1. All
antennae to be painted with orange and white bands of 5m width
2. All
antennae above 45 m height, guy wires, where used, should have 60 cm diameter
plastic/fiber glass orange and white balls
Night
1. In
addition to above for antennae above 45 m height-
2. A red
light of 1800 cp blinking @ 20 times per minute on top of the antenna
3. 2 red
lights to be installed at every 45 m for antenna height higher than 45 m (e.g.
an antenna of 118 m would be provided with a pair of red light @ 45 m, another
pair at 90 m and a blinking red light at the top of the area.