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Tag: Telecom Regulatory Authority of India

  • Starlink to Store All User Data Locally in India, Says Government

    According to Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar, Minister of State for Communications, Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet service will store its network data, traffic, and other information locally in India.

    “Security conditions, among other things, include the establishment of earth station gateway(s) in India for providing satellite-based communication services with no user traffic originating from or destined for India being routed through any gateway located outside India, no copying and decryption of the Indian data outside the country, and the Indian user traffic is not to be mirrored to any system/server located abroad,” the minister wrote in a response to the Rajya Sabha.

    Following Bharti-backed Eutelsat OneWeb and Reliance Jio-SES JV, US-based Starlink is the third satcom operator to obtain all necessary approvals to provide commercial broadband from space services in India. In June, Starlink was granted permission to use Global Mobile Personal Communication via Satellite (GMPCS).

    Starlink’s LEO Satellite Constellation and Capacity in India

    Starlink’s Gen 1 constellation has been approved by the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) to offer satellite communication services within the country. The first generation is Starlink’s low Earth orbit (LEO) network, which consists of 4408 satellites and has a 600 Gbps throughput capacity in India.

    Satcom Sector to Drive Employment Growth in India

    According to Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar, the satcom industry is anticipated to provide jobs because it is a developing field. In his response, the minister stated that satellite-based communication services are a developing field that, like any new business venture, is anticipated to create jobs in the nation.

    This is because the services include, among other things, the installation, operation, and maintenance of the telecom network, which includes user terminal equipment.

    Starlink’s Role in Bridging India’s Digital Divide

    Through a network of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites, SpaceX’s worldwide satellite internet project Starlink aims to provide consumers with direct access to high-speed broadband. By delivering fast and dependable broadband to remote areas like villages and hilly terrain, Starlink’s venture has the potential to transform internet accessibility in India, where the digital divide is still a significant barrier.

    Sekhar had stated that Starlink would provide rates of up to 200 Mbps throughout the nation, according to news agency PTI. “Starlink can only serve 20 lakh customers in India while providing speeds of up to 200 Mbps.” Telecommunications services won’t be impacted. It is anticipated that the regulations governing the distribution of spectrum for satellite communications (satcom) services will shortly be finalised.

    TRAI’s Recommendation on Satcom Spectrum Allocation

    According to the PTI report, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has advised administrative distribution of satcom spectrum instead of holding an auction. Furthermore, the regulator has suggested a five-year spectrum allocation period that might be extended by an extra two years depending on the state of the market.

  • Government Weighs Relief Plan for Vi’s INR 84,000 Cr Debt Woes

    Due to concerns that the telecom operator would fail without executive latitude, the Centre, which already owns the largest equity in Vodafone Idea (Vi) through the conversion of previous receivables into stock, is considering a number of options to give the telco additional relief on outstanding regulatory dues of INR 84,000 crore.

    A media report cited that raising the repayment period from the current six years to 20 years and concurrently implementing simple interest on the outstanding balance rather than compound interest or interest on interest are two options on the table to address adjusted gross revenue (AGR)-related dues.

    Its annual payment load may decrease considerably if such terms are applicable to Vi; nonetheless, some are doubting if the telco’s current cash flows are adequate to meet even the most lenient repayment covenants.

    The report further revealed that a second possibility is to charge a nominal sum of INR 1,000–1,500 crore per year to partially cover such obligations while a resolution is made on the larger AGR issue.

    Several Other Options are Being Discussed

    According to a number of media reports, in addition to these two solutions, several other innovative ideas are also being investigated, and any one or a combination of options may provide relief.

    The government wants to keep the business open. According to a media report, something new needs to be created because the known or current options—like waiving the interest and penalties—are not working.

    However, whichever choice is chosen, it would be viable from a legal standpoint. As of March 2025, Vi owed INR 83,400 crore in unpaid AGR dues; the annual payment instalments for this amount are due beginning in March 2026 and must be made by March FY31.

    Currently, by March of this fiscal year, the losing telecom company must pay INR 18,064 crore. The government is concerned that the corporation won’t be able to survive without any respite on the AGR dues, as its cash and bank balance at the end of March amounted to INR 9,930 crore.

    Financial Hurdles of Vi

    As a result of the Supreme Court’s 2021 AGR verdict, telecom companies like Vi and Bharti Airtel currently pay between 29 and 30% compound interest on their existing debts each year.

    The total outlay and accumulation for the upcoming years would be decreased if the same were converted into simple interest of 8–10%. A media report claims that if the decision is carried out prospectively, Vi can save more than INR 16,000 crore in interest costs following the conversion.

    If the judgement is applied retroactively, the savings will be even greater. For instance, until 2031, Vi is required to pay INR 18,064 crore by March 31 of each year. However, the annual instalment would be almost INR 15,000 crore if the interest were converted to a basic interest of 8–10%.

    The report went on to say that the payments might be prolonged to 20 years because the company’s cash flows will not allow it to pay even that sum. The annual outlay could be less in such a scenario.

    According to the government’s scenario-building for Vi, the firm would go bankrupt in FY27 if it is forced to pay the entire INR 18,064 crore instalment that is due by the end of FY26.

  • TRAI Unveils AI-Powered Consent Platform to Tackle Spam Calls and Protect Users

    To reduce spam calls, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has started a pilot initiative to develop a digital permission management system.

    The regulator will verify the technical, operational, and regulatory aspects of a digital consent registration function as part of the project. To test this framework, TRAI has enlisted a few banks and telecom providers in collaboration with the RBI.

    According to the regulator, because of the “sensitivity of banking transactions and cases of financial fraud through spam calls”, the banking industry would be given priority during the initial phase of implementation.

    The digital consent management platform will be gradually scaled up across industries thanks to the pilot project, which will be operationalised within a regulatory sandbox.

    Operating inside a regulatory sandbox environment, the pilot will evaluate the technical, operational, and regulatory aspects of the expanded Consent Registration Function (CRF) and set the stage for sector-wise scaling of the digital consent ecosystem, according to a statement from TRAI.

    The Goal-Safeguarding Consumer Interest and Enhancing Trust

    The initiative is in line with the telecom regulator’s overarching objective of protecting consumer interests and boosting confidence in legal commercial communications, the agency stated.

    In order to guarantee open practices throughout the ecosystem, TRAI further stated that it intends to keep collaborating with sectoral regulators and stakeholders. The creation of a digital consent management platform coincides with an increase in unsolicited messages and spam calls that consumers are receiving.

    The increase in such communications by companies from which a customer has already bought goods or services was noted by the regulator in the statement. Businesses claimed to have customer consent, according to TRAI.

    However, offline or unverifiable methods are frequently used to obtain this consent. Further explaining, TRAI stated that it is very challenging to determine the legality and authenticity of these consents because they were frequently obtained offline or through unverifiable methods.

    Customers have complained on multiple occasions that the businesses obtained their mobile numbers for this purpose through deceit, fraud, or unauthorised data-sharing.

    Many Initiatives Taken by the Regulator to Address Such Issues

    The regulator has taken a number of actions in recent months to address these problems. Some of the initiatives are now allowing telecom users to file complaints against unregistered telemarketers and starting the process of disconnecting telecom resources that are being utilised for spam.

    In order to obtain consent digitally and onboard companies delivering commercial messages, TRAI also started a project last year to create a safe and compatible digital consent register that will be managed by telecoms.

    The Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preference Regulations (TCCCPR), 2018, were also modified by the regulator in February of this year in an effort to reduce annoying spam calls.

    According to the new regulations, telcos that violate the guidelines could face fines of up to INR 10 lakh. Telecom companies reportedly protested when TRAI loosened its strict deadlines a month later.

    In connection with financial irregularities, TRAI and the telecom department blocked 1 Cr mobile connections together last year.

  • Starlink Set to Launch in India with INR 3,000 Monthly Plans, INR 33,000 Setup Fee

    With an anticipated monthly price of INR 3,000 for limitless bandwidth and a one-time fee of INR 33,000 for the receiver kit, Elon Musk’s satellite internet business Starlink is getting closer to offering its services in India.

    According to a media site, the service is anticipated to launch within the next 12 months. On June 6, Starlink achieved a significant milestone in its attempts to join the Indian broadband market by obtaining a vital licence from the Ministry of Telecommunications.

    With this approval, Starlink becomes one of the three companies permitted to provide satellite-based internet services in India, joining Bharti Airtel’s OneWeb and Reliance Jio’s satellite division.

    Through its constellation of low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites, Starlink intends to provide 600–700 Gbps of bandwidth, focusing on rural and isolated regions where traditional fibre and mobile networks are still scarce or unreliable.

    Starlink is establishing itself as a premium service in areas where terrestrial internet is not an option, even though India is renowned for having some of the lowest data prices in the world. There were differing initial predictions regarding Starlink’s pricing in India.

    Sanjay Bhargava, the former head of Starlink India, had projected an initial cost of INR 1.58 lakh, which would drop to INR 1.15 lakh in later years. The revised numbers align the price with Starlink’s recent debut in Bangladesh, where the service is available for INR 3,000 per month with a hardware cost of INR 33,000.

    At the moment, Starlink serves a few Asian nations, such as Bangladesh, Bhutan, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Japan. Standard plans cost between INR 4,000 and INR 6,000 per month, depending on the market, whereas Residential Lite plans in the region usually cost between INR 2,600 and INR 3,000.

    The first-year cost in Bangladesh, where the pricing plan is very similar to that suggested for India, is approximately INR 66,000. Before Starlink can begin operations in India, it still needs to clear further regulatory obstacles even after obtaining its operating licence.

    The DoT has yet to approve the spectrum allotment proposals made by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). The necessary paperwork for DoT clearance has already been sent in by the business.

     After Starlink promised to abide by the most recent national security regulations for satcom operators, DoT granted initial clearance.

    These comprise 29 new requirements, including the usage of local data centres, the requirement for interception and monitoring systems, the ability for mobile terminals to track, and the stringent localisation of infrastructure and services.

  • TRAI Turns Down COAI’s Plea to Revisit Satcom Spectrum Recommendations

    According to reports, TRAI turned down the COAI’s request to examine its suggestions for satcom spectrum. Following a thorough and open consultation process, the Centre has received recommendations pertaining to spectrum.

    Telecom companies disregarded TRAI’s suggestion earlier this month that satellite spectrum be billed at 4% of AGR. According to reports, the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) asked the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to review its satcom spectrum proposals, but the TRAI denied the request, stating that the consultation process was comprehensive and open.

    According to a media report that cited sources, the Centre received the spectrum recommendations following a thorough and open consultation procedure. All stakeholders had plenty of opportunity to voice their opinions throughout the consultation.

    The TRAI’s recommendation that satellite spectrum be priced at 4% of adjusted gross revenue (AGR) was apparently disregarded by major telecom companies just days prior. The TRAI’s spectrum pricing action was seen by the telcos to be unjustly cheap and predicated on false assumptions.

    TRAI Not Providing Level-Playing Field: COAI

    A few days ago, the COAI, which is made up of Bharti Airtel, Reliance Jio, and Vodafone Idea (Vi), wrote to DoT Secretary Neeraj Mittal to argue that TRAI’s recommendations do not provide equal opportunities for satellite operators and conventional terrestrial service providers.

    The TRAI’s pricing change, according to telecom businesses, would unfairly benefit satellite providers while jeopardising the viability of conventional terrestrial services.

    Satellite firms contend that the regulator’s plan for differential pricing for satellite spectrum is meant to equalise the playing field between satcom and terrestrial broadband providers, refuting telecom companies’ assertions to the contrary.

    They view higher spectrum fees and varying pricing for urban and rural areas as ways to establish competitive parity.

    Because of the capacity and latency benefits of satellite services, satcom providers see the regulator’s actions as a means of ensuring competitive fairness between satellite and terrestrial services, according to media sources.

    TRAI’s Response

    The TRAI responded that its recommendations were the outcome of a comprehensive consultation process that incorporated input from a diverse array of industry actors, such as satellite operators, telecommunications service providers, and other stakeholders.

    The agency claimed that by increasing connectivity alternatives, their strategy will eventually benefit consumers by promoting innovation and competition. Given the ongoing evolution of satellite communication, the ruling is anticipated to have a substantial impact on India’s telecom environment.

    Terrestrial network providers are expected to keep pushing for regulations that safeguard their market position, even though satellite operators may appreciate TRAI’s clarity.

    All eyes will be on the sector as it navigates these changes to see how India’s quickly changing digital economy maintains a balance between innovation, competition, and fair market practices.

  • By December 15, Trai will Finalise the Suggested Satcom Spectrum Allocation Rule

    According to Anil Kumar Lahoti, chairman of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai), the organisation is expected to make its recommendations about spectrum assignment and satcom service price by December. Trai has examined all of the comments, rebuttals, and submissions from the industry following the open house discussion. After then, it will take us two months to arrive. Thus, Lahoti informed the media that at some point in December, Trai will be in a position to make its recommendations.

    Additionally, he stated that before developing the suggestions, TRAI will consult the International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU) regulations, worldwide best practices, and stakeholder inputs. This occurs weeks after representatives of terrestrial and non-terrestrial network providers attended an open house discussion on satcom spectrum allotment hosted by TRAI.

    Tug of War Between National and International Players

    There were heated exchanges during the event as telcos like Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel demanded that satcom spectrum be distributed through an auction to guarantee a “level playing field,” while Jeff Bezos’s Amazon Project Kuiper and Elon Musk’s Starlink made the case for administrative satcom spectrum distribution.

    This comes after Jyotiraditya Scindia, the minister of communications, stated last month that satellite service spectrum will be distributed administratively but at a “cost” that would be determined by TRAI following thorough discussions with relevant parties. Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani, the Minister of State (MoS) for communications, stated earlier this month that satcom should be viewed as an adjunct to terrestrial networks like 5G and 6G in order to close the digital gap and improve last-mile connectivity in India.

    The director of Starlink Satellite Communications, Parnil Urdhwareshe, stated during the open house that Indian consumers desire satellite broadband services and that these “intelligent consumers” are entitled to select an operator that will offer them a high-quality, reasonably priced service. He noted that Starlink’s website easily provides costs for any country and that the company takes pride in making satellite broadband accessible to those who have not yet had it.

    Consultation Paper and its Aftermath

    Notably, in September, TRAI released a consultation paper to investigate the process and cost of allocating spectrum to satcom firms. The study requested feedback on 21 topics, such as the process for calculating spectrum fees, satellite communications service frequency ranges, assignment duration, and provisions for spectrum surrender, among other things.

    In response, telecom provider Reliance Jio sent several letters to TRAI requesting that the consultation paper on satcom spectrum distribution be withdrawn. The company said that the current paper “overlooks the critical point of ensuring” a level playing field between satellite and terrestrial services.

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  • TRAI Taking Measures to Curb Misuse of Messaging Services

    In order to prevent the misuse of messaging services and safeguard consumers from fraudulent practices, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has issued guidelines for the implementation of certain measures. A recent Direction from TRAI requires all Access Service Providers to adhere to the established protocol. 

    In its ongoing campaign against unwanted spam, TRAI has made it obvious that as of September 1, 2024, no access service provider will be able to send messages with the URL “url(”)” attached.

    To improve message traceability, TRAI has ordered that beginning November 1, 2024, all messages shall include a traceable trail from their senders to their recipients. If the telemarketer chain is not specified or does not match, the message will be denied.

    Tightening the Security

    Given that TRAI has already cracked down on unlicensed telemarketers who send promotional messages and calls to telecom users, this latest development takes on more importance. For up to two years, TRAI has ordered telecom companies to deactivate the accounts of unregistered telemarketers who have been detected to make spam calls. This directive was issued last week.

    The regulatory body for telecom has “issued directions for enforcement of measures to curb the misuse of messaging services and protect consumers from fraudulent practices.”

    By September 30, 2024, at the latest, TRAI has ordered all access providers to transfer all telemarketing calls, beginning with the 140 series, to an online DLT platform. This will allow for improved control and monitoring.

    Further Measures Taken by TRAI

    • Starting from November 1, 2024, all messages must include a traceable trail from senders to recipients, according to TRAI’s mandate, in order to improve message traceability. Undefined or mismatched telemarketer chains will result in message rejection.
    • The TRAI has instituted strict penalties for infractions in an effort to discourage the exploitation of promotional content templates. Registration of Content Templates in the incorrect category will result in blacklisting; subsequent infractions will cause the Sender’s services to be suspended for one month.
    • All Headers and Content Templates that are registered on DLT must follow the rules that have been set out to ensure compliance with regulations. Furthermore, you can only link one Content Template to one Header.
    • The TRAI has ordered the immediate suspension of traffic from all of a sender’s headers and content templates until they can be verified in the event that misuse of these elements is discovered. Sender traffic will not be revoked unless Sender takes legal action against such usage. Delivery-Telemarketers are also subject to the same penalties if they do not disclose the companies responsible for such abuse within two business days.

    For the exact text of the Direction, stakeholders are urged to go to the TRAI website at www.trai.gov.in.

    In order to protect consumer interests and forestall fraudulent acts, these steps advance TRAI’s efforts to establish a secure messaging ecosystem.

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