Policy clarity

Trai recommendations should pave way for satellite internet

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The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has paved the way for commercial satellite internet service in India by issuing recommendations on pricing, duration, and allocation modalities of spectrum. Although regulatory clarity has come much after some of the telecom companies were given the licence to offer satellite broadband, this is a significant development for the future of communication in the country, especially in the remote and rural areas that have been deprived of adequate connectivity. The Trai recommendations coincide with the government go-ahead to Starlink, a fully-owned subsidiary of SpaceX, which is majority-owned by Elon Musk. After a three-year wait, Starlink last week secured the letter of intent (LoI) from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to start its satellite broadband service in India.