The Broadband India Forum (BIF) has written to the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) requesting for administrative allocation of spectrum for Satcom services in accordance with the global norms. According to BIF, the concept of exclusivity applied to the terrestrial spectrum is not applicable to the satellite spectrum, so auctioning does not make sense.
In its submission to the DoT, BIF asserted that modern satellites and adequate competition, which operate under free and open market conditions are the need of the hour.
BIF has stated that satellite spectrum is authorised for ‘right-to-use’ by all administrations and is only allocated through administrative means at charges that largely cover the cost of administration.
It argued that, unlike terrestrial spectrum, satellite spectrum is not assigned to one company but coordinated internationally and distributed among multiple operators across different orbital slots and satellite types. The BIF also stated that the terrestrial concept of exclusivity does not apply to Satcom spectrum and auctioning is not relevant.
Any commodity to be auctioned has to be free from any encumbrances, it said emphasising that satellite spectrum has international encumbrances.
Furthermore, BIF’s suggestions entail encouraging private sector participation in Satcom, utilising available capacity from foreign satellites, fostering local equipment manufacturing, and using indigenous components in satellite gateways.
While encouraging the development of indigenous technologies and the use of homegrown satellite bandwidth, BIF said that it is important to permit foreign satellites to use the Indian skies as well through the process of direct negotiations.
BIF has also argued for rationalising levies that together are to the tune of more than 50 per cent, stating that lowering or waiving them would encourage rural broadband coverage through satellite.
