lalluram tech desk. Global satcom companies like Starlink and Amazon Kuiper have urged the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and the government to keep the prices of satellite spectrum low, as lack of it would force them to expand their services to urban areas instead of remote areas. Will be forced to provide services.
These companies have emphasized minimally intrusive regulations with a predictable policy regime. Higher spectrum prices, even through administrative mechanisms, will impact the profitability of these companies, as there are limited revenue opportunities in rural areas, where there are no telecom networks.
Speaking on the regulatory aspect of satellite spectrum at the India Mobile Congress, K Krishna, business head, Asia Pacific, Amazon Kuiper, said, “If the government increases the prices of airwaves used for satellite communication services, satellite communication companies will face difficulties in serving urban and connected customers. Will be forced to attract.
According to Krishna, satellite services should not be seen as the goose that lays the golden eggs, as they are trying to reach the end customer. He said, “So, if your goal is to reach that customer, we also share that goal. “But if you charge us too much, we may not be able to serve them cost effectively.”
David Goldman, head of satellite policy at SpaceX, echoed Musk's views and said that satellite spectrum is a shared resource, and cannot be auctioned off.
Goldman said Starlink partners with local telecom operators to provide satcom services in any country. He said, “We use the spectrum for which our partner is licensed. “Once we have a mobile partner, they will tell us what spectrum we can use.”
In the US, Starlink has partnered with T-Mobile to provide satcom services.
Notably, both Starlink and Kuiper have not yet received a license to provide satellite broadband services in India. Till now only Jio and OneWeb have got the license to provide services.
Starlink has 7,000 satellites, and operates in 100 countries. On the other hand, Amazon is investing more than $10 billion globally to launch Kuiper. The company plans to send 3,232 satellites into low Earth orbit by 2029.
According to officials, Starlink's approval in India is pending as the government has raised security concerns. An official said that the company will be given license only if it agrees to follow the government norms.
According to global consultancy Deloitte, India's satellite broadband services market is expected to grow 36% annually over the next five years and is projected to reach $1.9 billion by 2030.
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