New Delhi, Sept. 4 -- With deadly floods battering Nepal, India is stepping up efforts to modernize its public-safety and disaster-response networks.

However, the high cost of devices, confusion over whether to use dedicated spectrum or spectrum shared with telecom operators, and shortcomings in the network trials they conducted are among the key concerns the government is currently facing, according to officials and industry executives.

At a meeting with device and equipment manufacturers and technology providers, including Ericsson, Tejas Networks Ltd, Motorola Solutions Inc., Sepura Ltd and Zebra Technologies Corp., on Wednesday, the home ministry and department of telecommunications (DoT) asked them to keep handset prices realistic....