New Delhi : Telecom regulator TRAI Chairman Anil Kumar Lahoti has given information about the consultation process related to Satcom spectrum allocation in the press conference held during the IMC program. He has told that this process is still going on, all the suggestions will be considered before submitting the recommendations to the telecom regulator. Let us tell you that there is a tussle going on regarding the modalities of Satcom spectrum allocation.
This comment of the regulator has come at a time when the standoff over satellite spectrum continues between Starlink Chief Executive Officer i.e. CEO Elon Musk and the Indian giants. TRAI Chairman Anil Kumar Lahoti told reporters on the sidelines of India Mobile Congress (IMC), “We have received a reference from the Telecommunication Department. We have initiated the consultation process in response to the reference received from the Department of Telecommunications and include the issues that have been referred to TRAI by the Department of Telecommunications. The consultation process is ongoing. We will take into account all the views received during the consultation process and Will present our considered recommendations.”
Amendment in TRAI counseling letter
On Reliance Jio's demand to modify the TRAI counseling letter to ensure a level playing field between terrestrial and satellite players, TRAI Chairman said, “Different stakeholders raise different demands on the counseling process. “We take into account all these views and opinions and take a considered approach.”
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Advocacy to bid
The world's richest man Elon Musk has hit out at Indian billionaires Mukesh Ambani and Sunil Bharti Mittal's demand to auction spectrum used for satellite-based communications, calling it “unprecedented”. Ambani's telecom company Reliance Jio has stressed the need to allot such spectrum through auction to provide a level playing field to the old telecom operators. Bharti Airtel chief Mittal also advocated bidding for such allocation on Tuesday.
Plan to enter India
However, Musk-led Starlink is demanding administrative allocation of licenses for satellite-based communications in line with the global approach. Starlink is planning to enter India, the world's fastest growing mobile telephone and internet market. Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia also agreed with this stance and said that telecom waves will be given through administrative allocation instead of auction. Scindia said the Telecom Act, 2023 has placed the matter in 'Schedule I', which means the satellite communication spectrum will be allocated administratively.
(with agency input)
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