The satellite communications (satcom) industry has reportedly urged the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to accelerate the provisional allocation of spectrum, a move that would enable licensed players like Eutelsat OneWeb and Reliance Jio-SES to launch satellite broadband services in India.
Despite receiving all necessary approvals, including authorisations from Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) and Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite (GMPCS) licences from the DoT, non-geostationary satellite orbit (NGSO) operators are still unable to begin commercial operations due to pending frequency assignments. NGSO operators use low-earth orbit (LEO) and medium-earth orbit (MEO) satellite constellations to deliver high-speed internet services.
Industry bodies have called for immediate action. They have proposed allowing licensed operators to begin services under provisional spectrum allotments, contingent on an undertaking to pay the final charges retroactively once determined by the government. Eutelsat OneWeb and Reliance Jio-SES are currently the only NGSO players with the necessary clearances to launch services in India. They noted that provisional spectrum allocation would allow operators to put their satellite and ground infrastructure to use, aiding in investment recovery.
They also urged the DoT to extend the scope of its October 2024 provisional spectrum allocation policy to include NGSO licence holders. The industry bodies referenced the 2022 provisional allocation of E-band spectrum as a precedent to support their proposal.
The satcom industry stressed the capital-intensive nature of the sector, with significant investments made in satellite and ground-based assets. They also highlighted the limited operational lifespan of NGSO constellations, underlining the need for timely monetisation of resources.
