Trai To Soon Issue Recommendations On Satellite Spectrum Allocation: Trai Chairman

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India is expected to issue its recommendations on satellite spectrum allocation very soon, Trai Chairman A K Lahoti said on Monday during an event on National Consumer Day.

Following the release of Trai's recommendations, the government will assess them and make a decision on allocating spectrum to satellite communication companies, a crucial step toward enabling satellite-based broadband services in India.

Trai Chairman A K Lahoti, speaking at an event, confirmed that the recommendations would be issued "very soon."

In the second week of November, Trai concluded an open-house discussion regarding the terms and conditions for allocating spectrum for specific satellite-based commercial communication services.

Telecom giants like Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel have expressed their preference for satellite spectrum to be allocated through auctions to ensure full mobility services across India. In contrast, satellite communication companies such as Elon Musk’s Starlink, Amazon's Project Kuiper, and other global players have advocated for an administrative allocation of the spectrum. 

The upcoming recommendations are expected to pave the way for satellite-based broadband services in the country., balancing the interests of both traditional telecom operators and satellite communication providers.

With battle lines between terrestrial players and satellite aspirants clearly drawn, Trai's marathon open-house discussion stretched for several hours and saw telcos Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel banding together and speaking in unison about the need for a level playing field as India works out the norms for satcom spectrum.

Jio, which has made a case for the auction of satellite spectrum, on Friday said it is 'not afraid of competition' but that 'same services, same rules' must apply.

The Mukesh Ambani-led firm had approached a retired Supreme Court judge for a legal opinion, which says that Trai's consultation paper on spectrum allocation for satellite communications seems to have completely sidestepped the issue of a level playing field with ground-based telecom networks.

Musk's Starlink and other global peers like Amazon's Project Kuiper back an administrative allocation of satcom spectrum.

During the open house discussion, Parnil Urdhwareshe, Director, Starlink Satellite Communications, said Indian users want satellite broadband services, and these 'intelligent consumers' have the right to choose an operator who will provide them with an affordable, high-quality service.

Starlink prices for any country are readily available on its website, and it is proud of making satellite broadband affordable for users who have so far been unserved, he pointed out.

(With Inputs From PTI)