SpaceX’s Starlink has started security tests ahead of its commercial launch in India. Reports from India say this is one of the final steps needed prior to starting commercial broadband services in the nation. The tests form part of India’s obligatory security clearance process for both foreign and domestic telecom operators. However, India’s Telecom Regulatory […]

The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), the trade body representing India’s telcos, is reported to written to DoT Secretary Neeraj Mittal, arguing that Telecom Regulatory Authority of India’s (TRAI) recommendation that satellite spectrum be charged at 4 per cent of adjusted gross revenue (AGR) fails to ensure a level-playing field between satellite operators and […]

India’s Telecom Regulatory Authority (TRAI) has allowed a further week for stakeholder comments and counter arguments as to its plans to price spectrum for would-be broadband satellite operators. The new deadlines are set as October 25th for comments and November 1st for counter-comments, following requests from stakeholders for more time. TRAI’s initial deadlines were October […]

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has at long last issued its consultation paper on how it wants to price satellite spectrum. TRAI asks for feedback even though India’s would-be satellite broadband suppliers have been screaming to be allowed to start services. The TRAI consultation paper poses 21 questions related to satcom spectrum assignment, […]

Reports from India say that the various permissions for direct-from-satellite broadband services are again awaiting action. India’s authoritative Financial Express (FE) says that the country’s department of telecommunications (DoT) is unlikely to issue any provisional or interim spectrum to companies such as Eutelsat OneWeb and Jio to commercially roll out their satellite internet services soon. […]

Indian telcos and their satellite partners will have to wait some time to access new satellite spectrum over the nation. A new Telecommunications Bill is now under debate and this is not likely to be finally decided and approved until a planned budget session in February 2024. The various authorities will then need time to […]

India’s four giant DTH operators saw a fall in their combined subscriber numbers according to data from regulator TRAI. Tata Sky, Airtel Digital TV, Dish TV and Sun Direct saw combined subscriber numbers fall slightly from 68.89 million in September 2021 to 68.52 million in December 2021. There are more DTH viewers in the service […]

India’s telecoms regulator TRAI has extended its timetable deadlines for would-be satellite operators to establish – and license – their Earth station gateways. December 13th was the original closing date for submissions but this has been extended to December 20th. Counter-comments can now be submitted with a January 3rd closing date. TRAI, as part of […]

India’s telecom regulator TRAI is inviting comments and ideas as to how the nation can set up new satellite gateways and Earth stations which are needed to cope with rising demand for satellite-based connectivity. TRAI, working to a brief from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) earlier in September, is to supply recommendations covering the licencing […]

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) says it will shortly publish a “comprehensive” consultation paper on the licensing framework for satellite operators such as Elon Musk’s Starlink and Bharti’s OneWeb. The document will cover the setting up of Satellite Earth Station gateways, which are needed to route transmissions to and from the orbiting satellites. […]