India’s giant telcos, each of which has invested in broadband–by–satellite operations, are increasingly frustrated with the bureaucratic delays which are holding back them launching services.

According to Deloitte, India’s satellite broadband service market is expected to reach $1.9 billion (€1.7bn) by 2030, growing 36 per cent per year over the next five years. India’s telcos are keen to start services but are stymied by the absence of spectrum.

India’s largest telecommunications carrier, Reliance Jio, has written to the regulator, arguing that the Telecommunications Act 2023 permits spectrum frequencies to be allocated rather than having to await various ministerial permissions. One suggestion is that the spectrum should be allocated on a temporary basis while regulators catch up with their processes, which include pricing.

Jio has its partnership with SES (Orbit Connect India) and is looking to launch gigabit fibre–like internet services across India. As well as Jio/SES, the other key relationships concern SpaceX’s Starlink as a stand–alone would–be operator: Eutelsat OneWeb and its Indian partner Bharti Airtel (which as long ago as May promised services would start in June 2024). Another awaiting a spectrum licence include Amazon’s Kuiper.

Each of the mentioned players have licences issued by various government agencies, but actual final permissions have yet to happen.

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Tags: Amazon Kuiper, india, Jio, satellite