TRAI seeks views to make pricey satellite broadband services affordable 

The telecom regulator has floated a dialogue paper on methods to make satellite tv for pc communications extra inexpensive for odd shoppers in India. This, whilst Bharti Group-backed OneWeb gears as much as launch satellite-based quick broadband providers in India by June 2022 and Elon Musk’s SpaceX Applied sciences too has evinced an curiosity to enter the nation’s satellite TV for PC web house.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has sought stakeholder views on a slew of points, together with methods to spice up mass adoption of satellite tv for pc broadband providers and creating an enabling atmosphere to draw prime {dollars} within the satcoms house. It has additionally sought suggestions on whether or not nationwide lengthy distance (NLD) operators could be let to supply satellite tv for pc providers to attach the brand new wave of IoT (or web of issues) units, and whether or not solely choose frequency bands must be out there for offering such satellite-based IoT connectivity.

“The price of satellite-based providers is on the upper facet within the nation, attributable to which it has not been extensively adopted by end-users,” mentioned Trai in its paper issued Friday, inviting solutions on “particular measures” that may be taken to make the satellite-based providers “extra inexpensive” in India.

Trai mentioned that whereas an important attribute “to draw funding and new gamers” within the satellite tv for pc sector, is the convenience of doing enterprise, it’s acutely conscious concerning the lengthy delays reported in procurement of satellite tv for pc bandwidth by the present processes, given the involvement of a number of businesses for looking for varied clearances and approvals.

It added that issues can be handy for candidates “if there’s single window clearance for all types of satellite-based processes,” and prompt that every one such processes and permissions ought to ideally be on-line, with minimal bodily interface.

In its newest session, Trai has additionally sought stakeholder views on whether or not satellite tv for pc service licencees shoud be allowed to acquire bandwidth from international satellites for offering IoT connectivity.

Noting that communication satellites function utilizing totally different frequency bands — L-band, S-band, C-band, Ku-band, Ka band amongst others – the regulator has sought solutions on whether or not any particular or all bands must be allowed for provisioning satellite-based IoT connectivity.

Deadlines for feedback and counter-comments are April 9 and April 23 respectively. TechDuniaa