The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) will not be considering Reliance Jio’s demand to revise its consultation paper on the administrative pricing of satellite spectrum, sources said.
The regulator is of the view that since the Telecom Act has already paved way for administrative allocation of satellite spectrum, the consultation paper is to find ways to price it within that framework.
“Auction of satellite spectrum is already ruled out. Trai’s consultation will focus on the pricing and other terms of the spectrum keeping in view the administrative allocation,” an official said.
The consultation process is open and stakeholders are free to share their comments. Similarly, in the satellite spectrum paper, stakeholders can raise any issue, another official said, adding that Trai will examine each and every aspect keeping in view the level-playing field between satcom and telecom operators.
Reliance Jio in a recent letter to Trai chairman Anil Kumar Lahoti said that the regulator did not mention the option of satellite spectrum auction in the consultation paper on the subject.
Reliance Jio, which has all along opposed any allocation through administrative route, has once again raised the issue by highlighting that Trai has overlooked issues related to level-playing field vis-a-vis terrestrial network (telecom) operators.
According to Jio, as per the terms of reference, Trai is supposed to examine all options – administrative as well as via auctions.
“Trai will go by the Act and the first schedule clearly mentions the services for which spectrum will be given on administrative purpose without auction,” an official said.
Meanwhile, the Broadband India Forum (BIF), which represents major technology companies, on Tuesday countered Reliance Jio’s reiteration on auctioning of satellite spectrum and called it a ‘false narrative’.
BIF represents companies like OneWeb, Amazon, Hughes, among others. It called Jio’s demand against the law of land and said the same is against the recently enacted Telecom Act.
“It is imperative to expose false narratives and claims put forth by vested interests that subvert the due process of regulation and law. The enacted law, Telecommunications Act, 2023, is very clear on an administrative assignment of spectrum for Satcom services,” said TV Ramachandran, president of BIF.
“Hence, any attempts to disregard the law and undermine the process is a disservice to the larger public interest,” Ramachandran said, adding that there is no point flogging a dead horse.
According to Ramachandran, the reading of the law, particularly Section 4 of the Telecommunications Act is being deliberately misinterpreted by a couple of stakeholders to demand auctioning of satellite spectrum and ultimately serve their commercial interests.
On September 27, Trai issued the consultation paper on terms and conditions for the assignment of spectrum for certain satellite-based commercial communication services.
In a 91-page consultation paper, Trai has sought comments on issues such as frequency bands to be assigned to satellite companies for providing data communication and Internet service, pricing models, maximum period of assignment of spectrum, issues regarding possible interference from mobile networks, among other things.
According to BIF, the plea for a ‘level playing field’ in an already clarified regulation/law is entirely erroneous as the differences between satellite-based and terrestrial access-based services are as vast as the distance between heaven and earth, making them fundamentally unequal.
The consultation of satellite spectrum and its pricing assume significance as it is only after Trai’s recommendation, the spectrum will be allotted on an administrative basis to operators like OneWeb, Jio, Starlink, among others, to commercially start satellite-internet services.