The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is expected to finalise its recommendations on the proposed rules for spectrum allocation related to satellite communications by December 15, 2024. Following this, the government will assess TRAI’s recommendations and make decisions regarding spectrum allocation for satellite communication companies, facilitating the launch of satellite-based broadband services in India.
Recently, TRAI concluded an open house discussion focused on the terms and conditions for assigning spectrum for specific satellite-based commercial communication services. Reliance Jio Limited and Bharti Airtel advocate for spectrum to be allocated solely through auctions to ensure full mobility across the country. In contrast, Starlink and other global entities, including Amazon’s Project Kuiper, support an administrative approach to spectrum allocation.
During the extensive open house discussion, representatives from Jio and Airtel united in their call for a level playing field as India formulates regulations for satellite communication spectrum.Further, Jio has also sought a legal opinion from a former Supreme Court judge, which suggests that TRAI’s consultation paper on spectrum allocation overlooks critical issues regarding competitive fairness with ground-based telecom networks.
