Telecom Bill Ignores Jio's Objection In A Boost For Musk's Starlink, Airtel-Backed OneWeb

The telecommunication bill has ignored objections from domestic telecom operators including Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd. by allowing to provide spectrum for satellite communications without auction.

The Telecommunications Bill, 2023, proposes the allocation of spectrum to satellite communications companies through the administrative method, according to the bill.

That meets the demand of global satellite services providers, including Elon Musk's Starlink, and rejects the argument made by domestic telecom players Jio and Vodafone Idea Ltd. for allocation of spectrum for commercial use through auction only.

After meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New York in June, Musk had said he was keen to launch Starlink in India that "can be incredibly helpful" in bringing the internet to remote villages that lack on-ground infrastructure.

Based on comments provided by various companies to the sector regulator TRAI's consultations on the issue, brokerage CLSA had said that several players—including Starlink, Amazon's Kuiper, Tata Group, Bharti Airtel Ltd.-backed OneWeb, and Larsen and Toubro Ltd.—were against the auction.

According to the bill, the spectrum will be assigned by auction, except for specified uses, where it will be allocated on an administrative basis, the bill said.

Among the the services in the First Schedule that will be offered spectrum on an administrative basis:

• National security and defence

• Law enforcement and crime prevention

• Public broadcasting services

• Disaster management, safeguarding life and property

• Promoting scientific research, resource development, and exploration

• Safety and operation of roads, railways, metro, regional rail, inland waterways, airports, ports, pipelines, shipping, and other transport systems.

• Conservation of natural resources and wildlife

• Meteorological department and weather forecasting. 9. Internationally recognised dedicated bands for amateur stations, navigation, telemetry, and other like usages

• Use by Central Government, State Governments, or their entities or other authorised entities for safety and operations of mines, ports and oil exploration and such other activities where the use of spectrum is primarily for supporting the safety and operations

• Public Mobile Radio Trunking Services

• Radio backhaul for telecommunication services. Explanation.—The term "radio backhaul" shall mean the use of radio frequency only to interconnect telecommunication equipment, other than the customer equipment in telecommunication networks

• Community Radio Stations

• In-flight and maritime connectivity

• Space research and application, launch vehicle operations and ground station for satellite control

• Certain satellite-based services such as: Teleports, Television channels, Direct To Home, Headend In The Sky, Digital Satellite News Gathering, Very Small Aperture Terminal, Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellites, National Long Distance, International Long Distance, Mobile Satellite Service in L and S bands.

• Use by central government, state governments or their authorised agencies for telecommunication services.

• Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd. and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd.

• Testing, trial, experimental, demonstration purposes for enabling implementation of new technologies, including for creation of one or more regulatory sandboxes.

The bill was introduced in the lower house by Communications Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw amid din over the Opposition demanding a statement by Home Minister Amit Shah on the Parliament security breach issue.

(With inputs from PTI)