Reliance Jio, Vodafone Idea Wants Spectrum Auction for Satcom Industry

Reliance Jio, India’s number one telecom operator and Vodafone Idea (Vi), want the satcom industry to receive spectrum via spectrum auctions. However, the Broadband India Forum (BIF) believes that going with the auctions isn’t the best route to provide spectrum to the satcom industry.

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According to a FinancialExpress report, BIF believes that since the spectrum used by the satcom players isn’t exclusive to an operator like it is with the terrestrial spectrum allocated to the telecom companies, the auctions for the satcom industry won’t make any sense.

BIF Against Views of Reliance Jio and Vodafone Idea

BIF President TV Ramachandran told the publication that globally, spectrum to the satcom industry is provided on a ‘right-to-use’ basis, and the spectrum is allocated via an administrative process. The charge against this spectrum is only to cover the cost that’s borne by the administration for the allotment.

Ramachandran further said that satellite spectrum is not provided in the same terrestrial manner the way it is provided to the telecom operators. Instead, in the case of satcom companies, the spectrum is shared by multiple operators and coordinated internationally for all types of satellites and orbital slots.

Multiple operators are going to enter the Indian market with their satellite broadband services in the next year. Companies including Bharti Airtel backed OneWeb, Elon Musk owned Starlink, and Amazon’s Project Juniper has plans of providing satellite internet in India very soon.

The satellite broadband services will ensure that even in the remotest areas of India where the traditional mobile networks are inaccessible, these satellite broadband signals reach and keep the people connected.