Amazon’s satellite broadband division, Project Kuiper, has raised concerns with the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) over the proposed allocation of the 18 gigahertz (GHz) and E-band spectrum for terrestrial backhaul. The company warned that a hasty decision could undermine efforts to deliver affordable satellite broadband services nationwide.
Amazon’s Kuiper system mainly utilises the Ka-band, particularly the 17.7–19.7 GHz range (also known as the 18 GHz band) to carry out various functions such as satellite-to-customer downlinks, gateway communication, and telemetry. According to the company, this band has noteworthy benefits over the traditional Ku-band such as higher throughput and smaller, more cost-effective customer terminals.
Amazon has urged the telecom regulator to ensure these crucial frequency bands support the “harmonious coexistence” of both satellite and terrestrial services.
In its 2 July submission to TRAI, Amazon emphasised that these high-frequency bands are essential for operating modern non-geostationary satellite orbit (NGSO) systems, such as Kuiper, which aim to provide high-speed internet in underserved regions across India.
Meanwhile, Indian telecom operators, represented by the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), have requested TRAI to reserve all microwave backhaul spectrum bands, including 6 GHz (lower), 7 GHz, 13 GHz, 15 GHz, 18 GHz, 21 GHz, and the E and V bands, exclusively for access service providers.
