Reliance Jio has called on the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to revise its consultation paper concerning satellite spectrum pricing, arguing that it neglects the crucial issue of establishing a level playing field between satellite and terrestrial networks.
The telecom operator expressed concerns over the paper’s inclination towards administrative allocation of satellite spectrum, advocating instead for an auction-based approach.
In a letter to Anil Kumar Lahoti, chairman, TRAI, dated October 4, 2024, Jio noted that the current paper fails to include questions necessary for fostering equitable competition between satellite and terrestrial services. The company emphasised that this oversight could hinder stakeholders from providing meaningful feedback, thereby compromising the fairness of TRAI’s recommendations and the government’s goal of promoting balanced competition.
Furthermore, Jio criticised the focus on administrative allocation as contrary to section 4 of the Telecommunications Act, 2023, which advocates for auctions as the primary method for spectrum assignment in commercial services.
According to Jio, the absence of thorough discussion regarding these provisions in the consultation paper raises questions about its compliance with the Telecommunications Act. It asserted that both auction and administrative assignment methods should be available for stakeholder input, ensuring competitive fairness is prioritised.
