Reportedly, the Digital Communications Commission (DCC) met on September 16, 2025 to review the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India’s (TRAI) proposals on satellite spectrum allocation but nothing was approved as the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) returned a majority of the regulator’s recommendations.
The proposals sent back include a plan to levy an extra Rs 500 on urban satellite-broadband users, while the department also sought clarity on how internet of things (IoT) devices should be treated for spectrum charges. TRAI argued that the additional urban levy would help incentivise satcom providers to expand services in rural areas.
DoT believes the flat Rs 500 fee for urban users should be revisited in light of the overall expected pricing of satcom services to achieve the intended outcomes.
Additionally, other returned proposals include the use of Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN) funds to subsidise satellite terminals. TRAI had suggested disbursing DBN support, either as a lump sum or in instalments for terminals priced between Rs 20,000 and Rs 50,000 to spur adoption.
Similarly, proposals related to interference were also sent back. DoT also disagreed with TRAI on satellite ecosystem capacity and sought to set limits on the number of subscribers using a given satellite system.
Further, DoT felt these conditions could be revised even before five years if new technology emerges or if the spectrum is deployed for services beyond data and internet access.
