During the past month, India has made giant strides in the satellite communications space. In a major move, Hughes Communications India Private Limited announced the commercial launch of high-throughput satellite (HTS) broadband services in partnership with the Indian Space Research Organisation.
Not only is this the country’s first HTS broadband service, it also represents the first such public-private partnership (PPP) initiative undertaken in the satcom space, reflecting the government’s growing optimism and encouragement for PPP projects in satcom.
The HTS broadband service reportedly combines Ku-band capacity from ISRO’s GSAT-11 and GSAT-29 satellites with Hughes’ JUPITER platform ground technology. The combined technology will enable the delivery of high-speed broadband across India, including remote areas that are beyond the reach of terrestrial networks.
Another key development has been the grant of a letter of intent (LoI) by the Department of Telecommunications to Jio Satellite Communications Limited (JSCL), the satcom arm of Reliance Jio, for global mobile personal communication by satellite (GMPCS) services. The grant of the LoI will enable JSCL to set up and operate GMPCS services in its licensed service areas and provide high-speed broadband-from-space services. The LoI is valid for a period of 20 years from the date of its grant after fulfilling stipulated conditions. The offerings under GMPCS will include voice and data services via satellite.
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India too has been actively working towards promoting the use of satcom services in the country. The regulator has reportedly started conducting meetings with stakeholders, including telecom operators, satellite players and DoT officials to seek their views on satellite spectrum and the methodology for allocation of airwaves.
While DoT has been pitching for auction of satellite spectrum, industry experts feel the regulator needs to examine the issue in a more holistic way. Indeed, telecom operators remain divided in their opinion on the allocation of satellite broadband spectrum. While Airtel has stated that satellite broadband spectrum should be given administratively, Reliance Jio and Vodafone Idea Limited seem to be opposing this view.
TRAI’s upcoming meetings will precede a comprehensive consultation, due in the next two to three months, which will discuss all spectrum allocation scenarios, including auction, administration, reservation of some quantum for satellite services or even mixed use, and the pricing for different sets of allocation mechanisms. The regulator is also expected to meet officials in the Department of Space and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to discuss these issues.
All the involved parties will then collectively decide on the best way forward for satellite broadband spectrum allocation to enable rapid growth of these services in India.
