IAFI writes to DoT not to delay satellite spectrum assignment further

ITU-APT Foundation of India (IAFI) has requested the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) that any application for assignment of satellite spectrum under VSAT and other similar service authorizations of Unified Licence needs to be processed immediately under the existing guidelines, in order to avoid any potential delays in the launch of services by new Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) and other satellite operators

“Such requests/applications should not be delayed pending the issuance of rules under the Telecom Act. Needless to say. once the Rules are issued, they will be equally applicable to operators in this domain,” wrote Bharat B Bhatia, President, IAFI in a letter to the Chairman, DCC and Secretary, DOT. And copied to the Member, Technology, DoT, the Wireless Advisor, DoT and the Deputy Director General (Satellite), DoT.

IAFI at the outset expressed gratitude for the ground-breaking and forward-looking Telecommunications Act, 2023 (“Telecom Act”), introducing seminal reforms in the Indian telecom landscape. IAFI also extended appreciation for DoT’s comprehensive Satellite Communications (SatCom) reforms in 2022.

According to IAFI, the Indian Space Policy of 2023, has opened new avenues for India’s digital economy through space communications, allowing private SatCom players to offer commercial services. This holds immense potential for broader socio-economic benefits, bridging the digital divide in remote areas and addressing the country’s disaster, maritime, and defence needs.

The Telecom Act prescribes that spectrum for certain satellite-based services, including: Radio backhaul for telecommunication services, In-flight and maritime connectivity, Teleports, Television channels, Direct To Home, Headend In The Sky, Digital Satellite News Gathering, VSAT, Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellites, National Long Distance (NLD), International Long Distance, Mobile Satellite Service in L and S bands” shall be assigned on an administrative basis.

Over the past two decades, the government has been assigning satellite spectrum to VSAT and other telecom players administratively. While the Industry looks forward to the issuance of Rules under the Telecom Act, the guidelines for the administrative allocation of spectrum for satellite services, including VSAT and NLD, are already in place. VSAT and other similar operators have received satellite spectrum allocations in accordance with their requirements under the current guidelines and are actively providing satellite services.

In order to prevent any possible delays in the launch of services by new VSAT and other satellite operators due to spectrum assignment, IAFI recommends that any application for assignment of satellite spectrum under VSAT and other similar service authorizations under Unified Licence should be administered immediately under the existing guidelines and such requests/applications should not be delayed pending the issuance of Rules under the Telecom Act. And once the new Rules are issued, they can be then equally applied to all operators in this domain.

CT Bureau