Indian Telecom Giants Push for Fair Spectrum Pricing

As the Indian government deliberates on granting Starlink, Elon Musk's satellite communications venture, a license and mobile airwaves, local telecom heavyweights Reliance Jio and Airtel have urged the government to ensure fair competition. They advocate for comparable spectrum pricing for satellite services to prevent market distortions and maintain a level playing field.

Regulatory Concerns and Market Dynamics

The telecom giants have criticized the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) for not ensuring a level playing field between satellite and terrestrial spectrum assignments. They argue that satellite operators offering similar services should adhere to the same spectrum pricing, regulatory levies, and fees as terrestrial operators to uphold the 'same service, same rules' principle.

Government's Stance on Spectrum Allocation

Despite the telecom companies' demands, the Indian government has decided to allocate spectrum to satellite communication companies administratively, without auctions. This decision is based on the technological differences between terrestrial and satellite networks, with Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia emphasizing the shared nature of satellite spectrum, which complicates auction processes.

Starlink's Pending Application

Elon Musk's application for a satellite communication license in India is still under review, pending security clearances. Starlink's representatives are in discussions with the Department of Telecommunications and the Ministry of Home Affairs, navigating the final stages of the approval process.