Recommendations for Satcom Spectrum Allocation Will Be "Soon" Released by TRAI

Nitin Konde, Varun Bhardwaj

Dec 26, 2024 — 2 min read

Upcoming TRAI Guidelines on Satcom Spectrum Allocation

According to an official on 24 December, telecom regulator Trai will shortly make recommendations on regulations for the distribution of satellite spectrum. To open the door for satellite-based broadband services in the nation, the government would consider the suggestions made by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) before deciding to distribute spectrum to satellite communication firms.

Trai Chairman A K Lahoti stated that the recommendation on satcom spectrum rules will be released "very soon" when asked about it at a National Consumer Day event. In the second week of November, Trai wrapped up an open-house discussion on the terms and circumstances for spectrum assignment for specific commercial satellite-based communication services.

Tug of War Between National and International Players

Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel, two telecom service providers, believe that spectrum should only be distributed through auctions in order to ensure nationwide mobility. Nonetheless, an administrative distribution of satcom spectrum is supported by Elon Musk's Starlink, as well as international competitors like Amazon's Project Kuiper and other satellite communication firms.

Trai's lengthy open-house discussion lasted for several hours, during which telcos Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel united and spoke in tandem about the need for a level playing field as India works out the norms for satcom spectrum. The battle lines between terrestrial players and satellite aspirants were clearly drawn. In support of the satellite spectrum auction, Jio stated that it is "not afraid of competition" but that "same services, same rules" must be followed.

A retired Supreme Court judge was consulted by the Mukesh Ambani-led company to provide legal advice, stating that the issue of levelling the playing field with ground-based telecom networks appears to have been entirely ignored in Trai's consultation paper on spectrum allotment for satellite communications. Several international peers, including Amazon's Project Kuiper and Musk's Starlink, support an administrative distribution of satcom spectrum.

Satellite Earth Station Gateways

Regarding licensing requirements for satellite earth station gateways (SESG), service providers have been at odds. While Bharti Group-backed Eutelsat OneWeb and Apple partner Globalstar have stated that SESG does not require any new licensing, reports indicate that Amazon's Kuiper, Canada's Telesat, and Tata's Nelco have shown interest in a distinct authorisation scheme for SESG.

Data transfer between local networks is facilitated by SESGs, which are ground stations. Jyotiraditya Scindia, the minister of communications, stated in October that satellite service spectrum would be administratively distributed but at a "cost." It is important to remember that in order to provide satcom services in India, Starlink and Amazon Kuiper must first get a global mobile personal communication by satellite services (GMPCS) licence. Permits to launch satellite communications services in the nation have only been granted thus far to Reliance Jio's joint venture with Luxembourg-based satellite provider SES and Eutelsat Oneweb, which is supported by Bharti.