TRAI Rejects Jio's Request on Spectrum Pricing

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has rejected Reliance Jio's request to revise its consultation paper on satellite spectrum pricing, asserting that the existing Telecom Act allows for administrative allocation of such spectrum. In response, the PHD Chamber of Commerce has echoed Jio's concerns, arguing that the current paper fails to address the crucial issue of ensuring a level playing field between satellite and terrestrial communication services, potentially violating Article 14 of the Indian Constitution. PHD Executive Director Ranjeet Mehta emphasized that the absence of relevant questions in the consultation process limits stakeholder input, leading to possible discrimination. TRAI's consultation, initiated on September 27, 2024, aims to set pricing and allocation methodologies for satellite services, impacting major players like Starlink and OneWeb. Despite the industry's push for revision, the Broadband India Forum contends that the existing requests contradict legal provisions outlined in the Telecom Act.