The ITU-APT Foundation of India (IAFI) has urged the central government to expedite satellite spectrum allocation, as envisaged under the Telecommunications Act, 2023, to help bridge the digital divide in the country.
The foundation mentioned that the rapid advancements in satellite technologies, particularly in low earth orbit (LEO) and medium earth orbit (MEO) constellations, have opened new avenues for delivering high-speed internet connectivity to remote and underserved regions.
As per IAFI, access to high-speed internet has become a necessity for economic growth, social inclusion, and overall development. It added that satellite communications offers a solution to bridge India’s digital divide.
The IAFI has also recommended the communications ministry to prioritise providing clear regulatory guidelines to enable the seamless integration of non-geostationary (NGSO) systems with India’s telecom ecosystem.
In addition, satellite broadband services are yet to start in India as the government has yet to frame rules on pricing and spectrum allocation. That can happen only after the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) issues its recommendations.
