According to industry sources, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is planning to commence consultations with the stakeholders on the allocation methodology for satellite spectrum. To this end, the regulator will deliberate whether spectrum should be given through auction or administratively allocated to satellite firms and in which bands, a mix usage can be proposed, so that both telecom operators and satellite players can co-exist.
Meanwhile, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has provided information to TRAI around spectrum availability in various bands like Ku and Ka, used for satellite communications. Currently, Ku band is administratively allocated by DoT but there has been growing demand from telecom companies that allocation of spectrum should be done through auctions only.
Satcom is useful for providing broadband services in remote, hilly and inaccessible regions. It is also the only medium through which communication can be established in disaster zones when normal communication gets affected.
