Imagine that you are in a hilly area, forest or village, where there is no mobile tower anywhere. There is no network on the phone and it is difficult to call anyone. But, this situation is going to change completely in future. Now your smartphone will be able to get network by directly connecting to the satellite present in space. Taking a big step in this direction in India, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has made new recommendations regarding 'satellite-to-smartphone connectivity'.
Following these recommendations of TRAI, mobile users will be able to get connectivity in future even in those areas where it is extremely difficult to provide traditional mobile network. For this, 'direct-to-device' (D2D) technology will be used. However, at present this facility has not been started for general users and a final decision on these recommendations is yet to be taken by the Department of Telecom (DoT).
what is it Direct-to-Device satellite connectivity?
Generally, mobile phones connect to nearby mobile towers to get network. The tower transmits the phone's signal to the telecom network, but in Direct-to-Device technology the phone can receive the signal directly from the satellite.
This means that even where the mobile tower network is not available, there will be every possibility of the phone getting connectivity through satellite. Especially in telecommunication areas, hilly areas and emergency situations, this technology can prove to be a boon.
TRAI Two models of satellite connectivity are suggested:
Connectivity to the satellite's own spectrum: In this model the mobile phone will connect directly to the satellite. For which L-band and S-band spectrum can be used under Mobile Satellite Service (MSS). TRAI has also recommended to encourage manufacturers to include necessary modules supporting these satellite frequencies in smartphones sold in future.
Satellite connectivity to mobile network spectrum: In the second model, satellites will be able to deliver signals to phones using mobile network spectrum already allocated to telecom companies. For which 600 MHz, 700 MHz, 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz and 2100 MHz bands have been proposed, although for this the consent of the concerned telecom operators will be mandatory.
Jio, Airtel and Vi what will be the role of?
In TRAI's recommendations, special importance has also been given to partnership between satellite companies and telecom operators. According to the proposed arrangement, satellite companies will provide network infrastructure and capacity, while telecom companies like Jio, Airtel and Vodafone Idea will be able to provide services directly to their customers. For this, TRAI has recommended creating a new category named 'Satellite Communication Network (SCN) Provider Authorization'.
When will I get satellite network in my phone??
At present, the facility of satellite connectivity in smartphones is not available like normal mobile network. TRAI's recommendations are currently with the government. Services in this direction can be started only after it gets approval and after finalizing the necessary rules, technical arrangements and participation of telecom companies. Additionally, there is no guarantee that this feature will work in every current smartphone, as future smartphones will typically require hardware support for MSS-based connectivity.