Description: The release of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India’s consultation paper on “Assignment of Spectrum for Space-based Communication Services” in April 2023, triggered a debate on whether or not spectrum should be assigned across satcom services via auctions. It has also sparked concerns regarding access to sufficient satellite spectrum amongst global satellite operators such as Amazon (Project Kuiper) and OneWeb who want to enter the Indian market. The paper comes at a time when TRAI is consulting with stakeholders on spectrum assignment for space-based communication services. It presents a comprehensive analysis of technical, regulatory, and economic arguments on this issue and echoes the view of majority stakeholders.
Attribution: Tamanna Sharma and Niharika. Assigning Spectrum for Satellite Services in India. June 2023,Esya Centre.