The issue of allocation of spectrum for satellite broadband services continues to create discordant notes.
Reliance Jio, which has all along opposed any allocation through administrative route, has fired a fresh salvo at the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai), for overlooking issues related to level-playing field vis-a-vis terrestrial network (telecom) operators.
The ire of Jio is over the recent consultation paper brought out by the regulator seeking industry inputs on how to price spectrum for satcom services through the administrative route, which means without auctions. In a letter to the Trai chairman, Anil Kumar Lahoti, it has said that the regulator has deviated from the terms of reference spelled out by the department of telecommunications with regard to the consultation paper on the subject.
According to Jio, as per the terms of reference, Trai is supposed to examine all options – administrative as well as via auctions. Accordingly, it has urged the regulator to revise the consultation paper.
“Both auction and administrative assignment methods should remain open for stakeholders’ input, with due consideration given to competitive forces,” Jio said in its letter, a copy of which has also been marked to communications minister Jyotiraditya Scindia and telecom secretary Neeraj Mittal.
Analysts said that since prospective operators like, Bharti Enterprises-led, OneWeb, Elon Musk’s Starlink, and global tech major, Amazon, opposed to auction route, any revision by Trai is bound to create further discordant notes.
The issue has become a bit complicated as the Telecom Act has paved the way for administrative allocation of satellite spectrum, and Trai paper seems to be based on it.
The First Schedule of the Telecommunications Act, 2023 covers the assignment of spectrum through an administrative process, which includes satellite services as well.
However, in its letter, Jio has said that section 4(5)(a) of the Act emphasises auction as the default method for assigning spectrum for commercial services. As per the Act, all spectrum usages, including those in the First Schedule, are open to evaluation and amendment by the government.
In simple terms, Jio has said that without examining its feasibility, how can Trai exclude the auction method?
“Consequently, stakeholders will not be able to adequately consider and provide relevant inputs to Trai, thereby undermining the fairness of recommendations and the government’s intent to promote balanced competition,” Jio said in the letter, dated October 4.
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
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.
From: financialexpress
Financial News
