TRAI releases recommendations on licensing framework for satellite earth station gateway

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) today released recommendations on the ‘Licensing Framework for Establishing and Operating Satellite Earth Station Gateway (SESG)’.

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) had last year sought the TRAI’s recommendations on licensing framework for the establishment of a satellite gateway.

In this regard, a Consultation Paper on ‘Licensing Framework for Establishing Satellite Earth Station Gateway’ was issued on 15 November 2021. Comments from 23 stakeholders and counter-comments from seven stakeholders were received. An Open House Discussion (OHD) with stakeholders was held on 25 February 2022.

Based on the comments/ inputs received from the stakeholders and on its own analysis, TRAI has finalised its recommendations and submitted them to the government.

The salient features of these recommendations are:

--There shall be a separate Satellite Earth Station Gateway (SESG) License under Section 4 of the Indian Telegraph Act. The SESG License will not form part of the Unified License (UL). The Service Area for the SESG License shall be at National Level;

--The SESG Licensee may establish, maintain, and work SESGs anywhere within the territory of India for all types of satellite systems for which the Government has given permission;