India to Allocate Satellite Spectrum Administratively

During the India Mobile Congress, Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia announced that satellite communication spectrum will be allocated administratively, rejecting calls for auctioning from telecom giants Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio. He emphasized that while the spectrum allocation will not involve an auction, there will still be costs associated, which will be determined by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). Scindia expressed confidence in TRAI's capability to establish fair administrative pricing. This decision aligns with the stipulations of the Telecom Act 2023, which mandates administrative allocation. Both Airtel and Jio have sought a more equitable auction system to ensure competitive conditions for satellite service providers, amid rising interest from global players like Starlink and Amazon's Kuiper. The ongoing discussions highlight the complexity of integrating satellite services into India's telecommunications landscape.