Jio Urges Trai to Evaluate the Consultation Document on the Satellite Spectrum

Nitin Konde

Oct 8, 2024 — 2 min read

Jio Urges Trai to Evaluate the Consultation Document on the Satellite Spectrum

Telecom regulator Trai has been urged by Reliance Jio to draft a revised paper on spectrum distribution for satellite communication, claiming that it fails to address the crucial issue of guaranteeing parity between satellite and terrestrial services.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) Chairman, Anil Kumar Lahoti, received a letter from Reliance Jio requesting that the consultation document on suggested rules for "terms and conditions for the assignment of spectrum for certain satellite-based commercial communication services" needed to be revised.

Why Does Reliance Jio Want to Revise the Paper?

The crucial problem of guaranteeing fairness between satellite-based and terrestrial access providers has been entirely disregarded in the consultation paper, which astonished us. In a letter dated October 4, Reliance Jio (RJIL) stated that this omission has led to the absence of any queries addressing the necessity of establishing a level playing field amongst these providers. According to Jio, if this element is left out, stakeholders won't be able to give Trai enough thought and relevant input, which will compromise the suggestions' fairness and the government's goal of encouraging balanced competition.

Trai launched a consultation process on September 27, 2024, to investigate the process and cost of allocating spectrum to satellite firms for the provision of broadband, messaging, telephony, and other services throughout the nation. In India, satellite-based internet services from firms like Jio Satellite Communications, OneWeb, which is sponsored by the Bharti Group, and Starlink, which is owned by Elon Musk, will be made possible by the decision on spectrum pricing and allocation methods.

Jio and Vodafone Idea Have Opposed the Allocation

Jio and Vodafone Idea have protested the distribution of spectrum to satellite firms without conducting any official auction for the same. Jio claimed that the paper's bias towards administrative spectrum assignment violates the Telecommunications Act of 2023's standards.

According to the Telecommunication Act of 2023, auctions are the primary means of allocating spectrum for commercial services. To address the level-playing field difficulties between satellite and terrestrial networks, the company kindly requests that Trai rethink and update the consultation document with targeted questions. According to Jio, stakeholders should continue to have a say in both the auction and administrative assignment processes, with careful attention paid to competitive fairness.

A system for calculating spectrum charges, frequency ranges for satellite communications services, assignment length, and provisions for surrendering spectrum are among the 21 items on which Trai has requested feedback. According to the regulator, the deadline for comments on the paper is October 18, and the deadline for counter comments is October 25.