Satcom spectrum allocation- Nowhere in sight

India has moved closer to getting commercial satellite broadband communication with the promise of connectivity for a vast majority of citizens living in remote areas. OneWeb India, a subsidiary of Eutelsat Group and backed by telecom major Bharti Group, announced last week it had got all the required regulatory approvals, including those from the Department of Space, needed for a commercial launch. While that’s certainly a welcome development, the company would still have to wait for spectrum to roll out its services. The worrying part is that there’s no certainty yet on when spectrum will be made available to One Web and other private players looking to offer satellite broadband or space-based communication services. The indications are that spectrum allocation will take time because clarity is yet to emerge on many issues surrounding it.

India has moved closer to getting commercial satellite broadband communication with the promise of connectivity for a vast majority of citizens living in remote areas. OneWeb India, a subsidiary of Eutelsat Group and backed by telecom major Bharti Group, announced last week it had got all the required regulatory approvals, including those from the Department of Space, needed for a commercial launch. While that’s certainly a welcome development, the company would still have to wait for spectrum to roll out its services. The worrying part is that there’s no certainty yet on when spectrum will be made available to One Web and other private players looking to offer satellite broadband or space-based communication services. The indications are that spectrum allocation will take time because clarity is yet to emerge on many issues surrounding it.

In any case, at this point in time, the likelihood of an early decision on this matter from Trai is unlikely because the regulator does not have a chairperson for almost two months after P D Vaghela’s term ended on September 30, 2023. Without a chairperson, it will not be able to issue recommendations. According to the Trai Act, the chairperson shall have the powers of general superintendence and directions in the conduct of the affairs of the authority. What could prolong the appointment is that the government is exploring private-sector candidates to fill the regulatory post. To do so, the Trai Act could possibly require amendments in the upcoming Parliament session. Indeed, this is not a solitary case of a regulatory top post remaining vacant for a long period of time. Other regulators such as the Competition Commission of India were without a chairperson in the recent past, causing delays in decision-making and, therefore, creating hindrances in the functioning of markets. Sunil Bharti Mittal, Bharti Enterprises chairman and co-chair of Eutelsat Group’s board, has noted that approval for One Web’s commercial satellite broadband will be a critical step forward in meeting India’s ambition of providing internet connectivity for all and to help realise the Prime Minister’s vision of Digital India. A delay in giving out spectrum would inevitably slow the growth journey of flagship schemes such as Digital India. Business Standard