Trai May Not Change Stance on Satcom Recommendations

Regulator Awaits Response From DoT on Suggestions

- AASHISH ARYAN

The telecom regulator is unlikely to change its stance on its recommendations for satellite spectrum pricing, notwithstanding the opposition from private telecom operators who have said that it will not lead to a level playing field.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) was also waiting for a response from the department of telecommunications (DoT) on the recommendations, a senior government official said.

He said that the final pricing for satellite communications, which would incorporate DoT's comments on Trai's recommendations, is also likely to be released shortly by the government.

Under the Trai recommendations, satellite communications (satcom) providers would be required to pay 4 per cent of their adjusted gross revenue (AGR), in addition to an annual fee of ₹3,500 per megahertz and ₹500 per urban subscriber.

Elon Musk's Starlink, Bharti group and Eutelsat-backed OneWeb, and Reliance Jio's joint venture with SES, Jio Satellite Communications Ltd, are awaiting the government's decision on the administrative pricing mechanism proposed by Trai on May 9.

The department issued a letter of intent to Starlink on May 7, several days before the pricing recommendations were announced. However, the trial spectrum for testing services has not yet been allocated.