starlink satellite internet
Starlink Satellite Internet: Union Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia has said that major companies including Elon Musk’s Starlink will launch satellite communication services in India after they comply with the requirements set by security agencies. In a recent interview, the minister said that the government will soon be ready to allocate spectrum to satellite communication providers like Starlink, Eutelsat OneWeb and Jio SGS after the spectrum price is decided by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT).
Security and Spectrum Allocation
The Telecom Minister emphasized that the scheme depends on two main factors – security compliance and pricing. Jyotiraditya Scindia said that there are two issues which need attention. First, licensees OneWeb, Reliance Jio and Starlink will have to comply with security clearances related to international gateways, ensuring that data remains in India.
The government has already issued temporary spectrum to these companies, which will give them an opportunity to demonstrate their compliance capability to the security agencies. “They are in the process, so they have to comply,” Scindia said. Regarding the financial aspect, the Department of Telecommunications and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) are currently finalizing the pricing of spectrum. Jyotiraditya Scindia said, “Hopefully this will be resolved soon.” As soon as these reasons are resolved, there is no problem in proceeding with the approval process.
regulatory discussions
There are currently many disputes going on between TRAI and DoT regarding Satcom spectrum. Earlier this month, TRAI rejected several suggestions from DoT, including the proposal to increase the annual spectrum fee from 4 per cent to 5 per cent and removing the Rs 500 per connection fee in urban areas.
DoT is expected to present its case before the Digital Communications Commission (DCC), the highest decision-making body in the sector. The DCC will then decide the next steps for spectrum pricing, which may ultimately require Cabinet approval.
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