TRAI sticks to its fee plan for satellite waves, rejects DoT recommendation

THE Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has refused to modify its earlier recommendation on satellite communication spectrum charges, maintaining its proposal of 4% of Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) plus %500 per urban subscriber per year, with rural and remote users exempted.

- RAKESH KUMAR @New Dethi

The decision comes despite an alternative proposal from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT).

It had suggested a flat 5% AGR charge, with a 1% discount for operators connecting at least 5% of users in “hard-to-connect” areas such as border regions, hilly districts, and islands. The DoT also proposed removing the %500 per urban subscriber charge, arguing that distinguishing urban and rural subscribers could be challenging.