TRAI Extends Deadline For Comments On Satcom Spectrum Allocation Paper

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has extended the deadline for submitting comments on its consultation paper on satellite communication (satcom) spectrum allocation to October 25. 

The telecom regulator has also extended the date for submission of counter comments on the paper to November 1. 

“Keeping in view the requests of a few stakeholders for an extension of time for submission of comments, it has been decided to extend the last dates for submission of written comments and counter comments up to 25.10.2024 and 01.11.2024, respectively,” TRAI said in a statement. 

This comes nearly a month after the telecom regulator floated a paper to formulate the pricing and methodology for assigning satcom spectrum. It invited feedback from relevant stakeholders on the matter by October 18 and counter comments by October 25. 

In total, the regulator invited feedback on 21 questions related to satcom spectrum assignment, including frequency bands, the duration for which the satcom spectrum should be assigned and provision for surrendering spectrum. 

The extension comes days after telecom minister Jyotiraditya Scindia doubled down on the government’s previous stance that satcom spectrum will be allocated administratively. He, however, added that the airwaves would come at a cost, which would be decided by TRAI.

“The Telecom Act 2023… has very clearly put this in Schedule 1, which means that satcom spectrum will be allocated administratively. That does not mean that spectrum comes without a cost. What that cost is and what the formula of that cost is going to be will not be decided by you and me but it will be decided by TRAI,” he said earlier this week. 

The government said it is following the suit of a majority of the nations that have allocated satcom spectrum so far. 

However, the move to allot satcom spectrum administratively has been opposed by telecom operators, who are seeking an auction to allocate such airwaves. 

Previously, Bharti Enterprises chairman Sunil Mittal urged the Centre to ensure that the satcom space is governed by the same rules as that of the telecom sector. Another major telco Reliance Jio even shot off a letter to TRAI to rescind the consultation paper, saying that it “overlooks the critical point of ensuring” level-playing field between satellite and terrestrial services. 

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