Reliance Jio Urges Review of Satellite Spectrum Allocation

Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Jio has urged India's telecom regulator, TRAI, to review the implications of Elon Musk's Starlink and Amazon's Kuiper before granting satellite spectrum contracts. Reliance supports an auction-based approach for spectrum allocation, while the Indian government favors Musk's administrative allocation method, which is considered a global standard. In a letter to TRAI, Reliance highlighted its handling of 15 billion gigabytes of data monthly for its 479 million subscribers, compared to Starlink's projected capacity of 18 billion gigabytes at potentially lower costs. Industry experts suggest that auctioning spectrum may deter foreign competition, benefiting Reliance. The telecom regulator noted that all stakeholder feedback would be assessed before making final recommendations by year-end. The debate over satellite spectrum allocation could significantly impact India's telecommunications landscape, especially with Starlink seeking the necessary permissions to launch services in the country.