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Tag: Satcom

  • By June, Satellite Internet Services Might be Introduced in India

    Satellite internet may be available in Indian skies as early as June. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is finalising a series of recommendations regarding the cost and usage of satellite communications that have been in the works for almost two years. The introduction of a framework and the distribution of spectrum will pave the way for Elon Musk’s Starlink, Sunil Bharti Mittal’s Bharti Airtel, and Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Jio Infocomm to launch satellite internet services. Several media outlets have reported that the suggestions are almost complete. Because the proposals will include information on the revenue-sharing model of satcom services, the pricing and allocation of spectrum, and other relevant regulations, the regulator is taking its time.

     TRAI wants to swiftly submit the pricing and operational framework to the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) for approval with minimal opposition after it is released. TRAI may present its proposals in March, and the Digital Communications Commission is expected to adopt them with minimal modification following a brief consultation period. This will organise the auction procedure, which, including operator final testing, should take no more than two to three months. Satellite service providers should begin making money by June as well.

    Why India’s Satcom Battle is Getting Intense?

    Satcom uses satellites that link to a ground-based receiver that can provide data to gadgets like computers and cell phones. Between 2020 and 2022, India’s space industry was liberalised to grant access to satellite infrastructure and spectrum. Reliance Jio was persuaded to enter into a cooperative venture with Luxembourg-based satellite operator SES in February 2022 by the prospect of these services. A month prior, Bharti Airtel and Hughes Communications India, its joint venture partner, had inked a distribution agreement with OneWeb in the United Kingdom. OneWeb was purchased by Eutelsat of France in September 2023. Because it owned all of OneWeb’s India division, Airtel continued to be the largest shareholder of the newly established company after the purchase was completed. The third major rival in this market is Musk’s satellite internet services company, Starlink. Due to the Centre’s regulations, preorders were halted even though the service had briefly begun to receive security deposits from clients in preparation for a launch. Starlink has not yet received its Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite (GMPCS) licence.

    Pricing is the Key

    At a press conference held during the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona on February 3, Union telecoms minister Jyotiraditya Scindia declared that all satcom operators “will be treated equally” and that no one will receive preferential treatment. Analysts and industry participants anticipate the implementation of satcom services to occur soon as well, but they stress that cost is a crucial consideration. While the Telecommunications Act guarantees administrative allocation, which should result in the TRAI framework being implemented shortly, T.V. Ramachandran, president of the Broadband India Forum, stated that nominal pricing is necessary to guarantee access to the greatest number of users who would otherwise remain unconnected. An executive of the Airtel-OneWeb partnership reportedly told the media that Bharti Airtel has been prepared with its services, to the point where it can launch its operations in a very short amount of time. While the company’s satellite constellation and network are operational for enterprise use, regulatory uncertainty has only been impeding the sector.

  • Recommendations for Satcom Spectrum Allocation Will Be “Soon” Released by TRAI

    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.

    TRAI to Finalize Satcom Spectrum Allocation Rules by December 15
    TRAI is set to finalize the proposed rules for Satcom spectrum allocation by December 15, shaping the future of satellite communication in India.
    StartupTalkyNitin Konde

  • Satcom Spectrum will be Distributed in an Administrative Manner: Scindia

    On October 15, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Minister of Communications of India, made clear the government’s position on the satellite spectrum issue. According to him, spectrum would be distributed administratively rather than through auction, and service providers would be responsible for a fee.

    In response to a query at a media briefing at India Mobile Congress, Scindia stated that satellite spectrum will be distributed administratively as per the very clear allocation stated in Schedule 1 of the Telecom Act 2023, which was passed in December of last year.

    However, Scindia made it clear that radiowaves, even if allocated for satellite-based communications services without an auction, will still incur costs. However, this does not imply that spectrum is free. Trai will determine that cost and its methodology, he reiterated.

    “The constitution gives our regulating body for telecommunications the authority to decide what the administrative pricing will be. Scindia continued, “I have no doubts that they will determine the appropriate plan of action as long as they handle the pricing administratively.”

    This essentially means that the request to auction off satellite airwaves by Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and other service providers remains unfulfilled. Scindia made these remarks just hours after Reliance Jio and Sunil Bharti Mittal, the founder and chairman of Bharti Airtel, joined forces to demand the distribution of satellite service spectrum in a manner similar to that of telecom companies.

    Airtel and Jio Worries

    To ensure level competition, both telecom companies have pursued a transparent and equitable auction procedure for satellite services. Jio has demanded that the way that Indian satellite communication firms are allotted spectrum be changed. Jio expressed concerns about fair competition with established cellular providers and asked for a reexamination of the current proposal in a letter dated October 10 to Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia.

    In direct competition with land-based mobile networks, Elon Musk‘s Starlink, Amazon’s Kupier, OneWeb Eutelsat, funded by Bharti Group, and the SES-Jio joint venture have all indicated interest in offering their services in India.

    Jio underlined that, like traditional telecom operators, satellite businesses like Starlink and Amazon’s Kuiper should purchase spectrum through an open auction procedure and pay license rates that are comparable to those of current telecom providers. At the India Mobile Congress, Sunil Mittal, the chairman of Bharti Airtel, reiterated this idea by saying that satellite companies providing services in cities have to take part in spectrum auctions. In addition, Airtel restated its position and released a letter it sent in March to the telecom department.

    Musk Describes the Sale as “Unprecedented”

    Musk responded on October 14 to Reliance Jio’s alleged action urging the government to hold a transparent auction of satellite airwaves. According to Musk, that would be exceptional because the ITU (International Telecommunication Union) has long defined this wavelength as a shared spectrum for satellites. Similar remarks were made by Scindia, who stated that satellite spectrum is administratively distributed worldwide.

    “India is acting in the same manner as the rest of the globe. On the other hand, if you choose to auction, you are acting in a way that sets you apart from the rest of the world,” he opined.

    BSNL to Launch 5G Services by June 2025: Scindia
    BSNL will roll out 4G by May 2024 and transition to 5G by June 2025, according to Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia. India aims to lead in 6G technology globally.
    StartupTalkyNitin Konde