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The department of telecommunications (DoT) has called on the sector regulator to recommend the pricing as well as terms and conditions for allocating satellite airwaves administratively. As per the recently notified Telecommunications Act, 2023, spectrum for satellite services, including for global mobile personal communication by satellite services (GMPCS) permit-holders, must be given without auctions. But the terms and conditions for spectrum usage and the price at which it’s to be allotted are yet to be defined.
“We have received a reference from DoT regarding satellite spectrum for defining the terms and conditions as well as pricing. We will give the recommendations after doing a consultation with the stakeholders,” a senior Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) official told ET on condition of anonymity. The government expects to get the recommendations in a few months as it has to notify the rules by the year-end.
The Telecommunications Act has been implemented from June 26 and all rules and provisions of the Act have to be notified within 180 days from the implementation date. The government has already implemented many provisions of the Act, including sections that deal with right of way, optimal utilisation of spectrum, including spectrum sharing, and trading, amongst others.
However, the government needs to define rules relating to spectrum allotment, including satellite communications, interception of calls and messages as well as collection of biometric data, for which the processes need to be defined. As per the officials, spectrum allotted administratively for satellite services is meant only for point-to-point connection and not for direct transmission of services to retail consumers. The rules are expected to define the exact conditions for satellite spectrum usage. The rules will, however, be defined after Trai sends its recommendations.
Experts feel technology is evolving at a rapid pace and rules should be framed in a futuristic manner. Already, technology is available that connects a mobile device with a satellite. Apple’s iPhone 14 and later models support satellite connectivity. The service is currently available in 16 countries, including the US, Canada, the UK and Australia.
However, the service is yet to be rolled out in India and it will depend on the policies framed by the government.
The likes of Reliance Jio have been supporting auction as the mode for satellite spectrum allocation as with technology advancements both satellite and terrestrial would be competing. The viewpoint is, however, opposed by Bharti-backed Eutelsat OneWeb and other satcom players. But the decks have been cleared with the Telecommunications Act mandating that satcom players be given spectrum via the administrative route.
Eutelsat OneWeb, Elon Musk’s Starlink, Amazon-backed Project Kuiper and Reliance Jio’s satcom joint venture with Luxembourg’s SES are all to be given spectrum administratively.
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