Ever since the Government of India (GOI) announced its intention to allow satellite communication services (satcom) to operate through administrative spectrum allocation instead of competitive auctions, India’s telecom operators have raised strong objections. They argue that satellite operators should not be given spectrum at significantly lower costs, especially if they plan to offer services in urban and semi-urban areas, where they would directly compete with the Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) and fixed-line broadband businesses of terrestrial operators.
At the India Mobile Congress 2024, Sunil Mittal, Chairman of Bharti Airtel, underscored the need for a level playing field between terrestrial telecom operators and satellite service providers, particularly in urban areas where both are expected to offer comparable internet experiences to consumers.
