Air Marshal (Dr) Rajeev Sachdeva, AVSM (Retd)

This Occasional Paper explains the radio-frequency spectrum as a finite strategic resource and traces how its management underpins both national telecommunications and India’s defence preparedness. It outlines the roles of the ITU, WPC, SACFA, the Wireless Advisor and the National Frequency Allocation Plan in regulating spectrum use, aligning national practice with international regimes, and balancing commercial and sovereign requirements. The paper then analyses the Network for Spectrum (NFS) project—under which the Armed Forces surrendered large tranches of “defence band” spectrum in return for a secure, nationwide optical-fibre-based network—and details the conception, architecture and security features of the Defence Communication Network (DCN). It highlights operational benefits, implementation challenges, technology-refresh imperatives, and the persistent disconnects between strategic (DCN) and tactical battlespace networks, offering insights of direct relevance to planners, technologists and commanders.