Jio expresses displeasure at commercial use of satellite spectrum without auction

Reliance Jio has written to the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) saying it should not allow satellite spectrum allocated administratively to be used for commercial services like fixed wireless access (FWA). As it’s a 5G use case, it should be offered only through auctioned spectrum. Jio has also said that in case DoT decides to allow FWA for satcom players, the amount paid by companies for buying spectrum in an auction should refunded.

The DoT is in the process of finalizing guidelines regulating the administrative allotment of spectrum, especially for satellite communication, including GMPCS holders. The granting of the satellite communication licenses through an administrative method is the choice made under the new Telecommunication Bill, 2023.

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is currently finalising the laws controlling the administrative distribution of spectrum, specifically for satellite communication, which includes global mobile personal communication via satellite service providers (GMPCS). The DoT may include restrictions prohibiting satellite communication providers from directly offering services to retail clients, according to the article. However, the department may allow satellite communication services to be offered via fixed terminals. Nonetheless, it is unclear if FWA will be permissible under current restrictions.

It is important to remember that the recently passed Telecommunication Bill, 2023, chooses to award satellite communication licenses through an administrative process. This was viewed as a huge victory for companies such as Bharti Airtel-backed OneWeb, Elon Musk’s Starlink, and Amazon’s Kuiper.

Jio has been advocating for an auction to allocate spectrum for satellite broadband services for some time. Last year, in response to a consultation document issued by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), Jio advocated for auction-based allocation, while OneWeb, Starlink, and Kupier advocated for administrative assignment of the spectrum for satellite communication services.