India’s satcom spectrum assignment process has moved closer to implementation after the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India recommended a new authorisation framework for satellite communication networks under the Telecom Act, 2023. The proposal could allow authorised network providers to supply satellite capacity to telecom service providers rather than directly serving consumers.
TRAI has recommended introducing a new category called “satellite communication network”, or SCN, for entities that provide satellite network capacity as a service. The proposed authorisation would be valid for a maximum of 20 years, with a provision for renewal for up to another 20 years.
Under the framework described in the recommendations, SCN-authorised entities would provide “network as a service” to eligible service providers. The model separates the operation of the satellite communication network from the retail delivery of services, placing telecom companies and other eligible providers between the network operator and end users.
The recommendations identify several forms of satellite connectivity that should be permitted through SCN providers. These include fixed satellite services, mobile satellite services, direct-to-device services using mobile satellite service spectrum, and direct-to-device services using international mobile telecommunications spectrum.
TRAI also said SCN-authorised entities could seek appropriate satellite spectrum, including fixed satellite service and mobile satellite service spectrum, from the central government. They could alternatively use spectrum assigned to partnering service providers for delivering satellite communication network services.
The recommendation comes as three companies are waiting to begin satcom operations in India: Sunil Bharti-backed Eutelsat OneWeb, Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Jio and Elon Musk’s Starlink. The companies are moving through the country’s authorisation and security-clearance processes before spectrum assignment can take place.
The Times of India reported that each company would need to receive security clearance individually. It also reported that Eutelsat OneWeb and Jio could receive approval before Starlink, citing concerns related to security and recent public exchanges involving Musk and Ambani. The report did not identify a final government decision on the order or timing of clearances.
The regulatory sequence is significant because satellite connectivity depends on several approvals rather than a single operating licence. A company must first be authorised to provide the relevant network service, obtain security clearance and then seek access to the spectrum needed for operations. The TRAI recommendation addresses the proposed network authorisation and spectrum-access framework, but it does not itself constitute final spectrum assignment to any company.
For India’s telecom infrastructure, the proposed SCN model establishes a structure in which satellite capacity can be supplied to existing or eligible service providers. The recommendations cover both conventional satellite communication and direct-to-device services, which are designed to connect compatible devices through satellite networks where terrestrial coverage may be unavailable or limited.
The next steps will depend on the central government’s consideration of TRAI’s recommendations, the completion of individual security clearances and subsequent spectrum-assignment decisions. The three companies will be able to proceed towards commercial satcom operations only after the applicable authorisations and spectrum permissions are secured.
