DoT Seeks Clarity From Amazon On Satellite Communication Licence Application

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is seeking additional details from Amazon regarding its satellite communication licence application. This includes seeking clear information on key aspects like setting up satellite gateways, along with data storage and transfer protocol, ET said in a report.

The Indian government is currently reviewing the application submitted by Amazon’s Project Kuiper for a Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite Services (GMPCS) licence. 

This approval would allow Amazon to deliver an array of services including broadband, voice, and messaging directly from space, catering to both individual consumers and businesses. 

In October, Amazon marked its entry into the Indian satellite communication sector by beginning the approval process with the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe). Through its satellite communication division, Project Kuiper, Amazon applied to the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) for the GMPCS licence.

Amazon intends to provide customers in India with broadband services ranging from 100 Mbps to 1 Gbps through its broadband-from-space services, set to launch by the end of the upcoming year. Project Kuiper, in collaboration with Amazon, plans to introduce satcom services in India concurrently with its global launch. 

“We have sought details from Amazon on some points like satellite gateways and data. This is part of a process as we analyse the application,” an official told ET. 

In addition to DoT, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) will also conduct a thorough security review of Amazon’s application. Following the acquisition of all essential details, an inter-ministerial committee will finalise the decision regarding Amazon’s licence grant. 

The 2023 Space Policy of India permits private entities operating low-earth orbit (LEO) and medium-earth orbit (MEO) satellite constellations to introduce high-speed broadband services from space within the nation. 

Amazon has sought the necessary regulatory clearances from the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe). Amazon joins the list of contenders seeking to provide space communication services in India, following in the footsteps of Bharti-backed OneWeb, Reliance Jio’s satellite communication arm, and Starlink. This move highlights the growing competition in India’s nascent broadband-from-space market.

According to a Financial Express report, Jio Satellite Communications and Bharti Enterprises’ OneWeb have received government clearance to offer broadband internet services via satellite. Both companies have successfully acquired pan-India Internet Service Provider (ISP) licences, essential for providing internet access through satellite or mobile networks.

Starlink, owned by Elon Musk, is anticipated to receive the GMPCS (global mobile personal communication by satellite) licence in the near future.