Jio, Airtel Demand Fair Satellite Spectrum Rules as Starlink Targets India

Indian telecom leaders Reliance Jio and Airtel have urged the government to ensure fair competition in the satellite communications industry while it concludes decisions on licensing and spectrum distribution for Elon Musk's Starlink, The Times of India reported.

In a representation to the government, the telcos condemned the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) for failing to resolve the imbalance between satellite and terrestrial spectrum allocation. The petition stated that satellite service providers functioning in urban, semi-urban, and rural areas ought to be subject to spectrum pricing, and regulatory fees to those enforced on terrestrial telecom operators, according to the news report.

The telcos companies recognized that satellite spectrum needs to be assigned administratively at reduced costs for non-profit uses such as governmental activities, disaster response, cellular backhaul, and industries including defense, maritime, and aviation. However, they maintain that commercial satellite operators should not receive preferential pricing advantages.

Despite these concerns, the government is still dedicated to allocating satellite spectrum without conducting auctions. Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia supported the strategy, highlighting the essential distinctions between terrestrial and satellite networks.

Starlink uses low earth orbit (LEO) satellites for internet service, making it suitable for remote regions without conventional infrastructure. With thousands of satellites currently operational, it can improve India's connectivity.

The allocation of spectrum for satellite broadband has been contentious. Telecom leaders such as Jio and Airtel advocated for auctions to promote fair competition and increase government income, whereas Starlink supported administrative distribution to lower expenses. The Centre chose to use administrative allocation, by the standards set by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU). This advantages Starlink but raises worries for local telecom firms that invest significantly in auctions.