SIA India seeks IN-SPACe’s intervention on TRAI consultation

Space industry regulator IN-SPACe has been reached out by Satcom Industry Association of India (SIA India) to look into the telecom regulator’s discussion paper on spectrum allocation mode for space services.

SIA India has alleged that the underlying intent of the paper appears to be forcing an auction of satellite spectrum, contrary to global practices.

India’s Space Policy 2023 has empowered IN-SPACe to act as the sole single-window agency to authorise space activities by both government and private satcom players.

SIA counts satellite biggies such as US-based Hughes, Luxembourg’s SES, UK’s Inmarsat, Canada’s Telesat, Viasat and Asiasat among its key members.

Last month, TRAI had floated a consultation paper seeking views on whether spectrum allotment for space communications should be done via auctions, the administrative route or any other model.

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT), though, has asked TRAI to recommend an auction model for space spectrum. Accordingly, the industry is awaiting the regulator’s recommendations, though DoT will take the final call. KNN India