TRAI Floats Consultation Paper To Formulate Satcom Spectrum Pricing

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has floated a consultation paper to formulate the pricing of satellite communication (satcom) spectrum. 

The regulator has asked the stakeholders to submit feedback on identifying a methodology for assigning the spectrum.

“Whether there are any other suggestions related to assignment of spectrum for… GSO/ NGSO (Non-Geostationary Orbit))-based mobile satellite services for providing voice, text, data, and Internet services?” read the paper. 

Overall, it has invited comments on 21 questions related to satcom spectrum assignment, including frequency bands, the duration for which the satcom spectrum should be assigned and provision for surrendering spectrum. 

TRAI has invited comments from all relevant stakeholders on the matter till October 18. Thereafter, it will seek counter comments by October 25.

The move will pave the way for the likes of Bharti Group-backed Eutelsat OneWeb and Jio Satellite Communications, Elon Musk-owned SpaceX, Amazon Kuiper to offer satcom services in the country. 

This is more or less in line with Centre’s plans to allocate satcom spectrum through an administrative process and without any auction process. With the new paper, TRAI could be looking at formalising a policy framework to figure out alternate ways to assign radio waves to the satcom players. 

Earlier, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) sought recommendation from the regulator on the terms and conditions for the assignment of spectrum for certain satellite-based commercial communication services.

The latest development comes just a day after TRAI chief Anil Kumar Lahoti said that the regulator will prioritise pricing for (satcom) spectrum before formulating norms for regulating messaging apps such as WhatsApp and Telegram.

The development is expected to push the needle on deploying satcom services in the country. So far, the likes of global giants Starlink and Project Kuiper have sought authorisation from the government to offer satellite communication services in the country. 

Eutelsat OneWeb and Reliance-owned Orbit Connect India have received some form of authorisation from nodal body IN-SPACe.

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