Jio seeks revised paper on satellite spectrum allocation as it ignores level-playing field

Reliance Jio has urged telecom regulator Trai to come up with a revised paper on spectrum allocation for satellite communication alleging that it igres key point of ensuring a level-playing field between satellite and terrestrial services.

In a letter to Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) Chairman, Anil Kumar Lahoti, Reliance Jio has sought revision of consultation paper on recommending rules for "terms and conditions for assignment of spectrum for certain satellite-based commercial communication services".

"We are surprised that consultation paper has completely overlooked critical issue of ensuring a level-playing field between satellite-based and terrestrial access services. This omission has resulted in lack of any questions addressing need to create a level-playing field between se services," Reliance Jio (RJIL) said in a letter dated October 4.

Jio said that due to omission of this point, stakeholders will t be able to adequately consider and provide relevant inputs to Trai which will undermine fairness of recommendations and government's intent to promote balanced competition.

On September 27, 2024, Trai floated a consultation process to explore methodology and price for assigning spectrum to satellite companies to provide calling, messaging, broadband and or services in country. decision on spectrum price and allocation methodology will pave way for satellite-based broadband services from companies like Elon Musk-owned Starlink, Bharti Group-backed OneWeb, and Jio Satellite Communications, across India.

Jio said consultation paper does t adequately address competitive fairness and is t aligned with Department of Telecommunications (DoT) reference dated July 11, 2024, which makes consultation paper and consequent recommendations vulnerable to legal challenges.

Jio and Vodafone Idea have opposed allocation of spectrum to satellite companies without auction.

Jio alleged that paper is tilted towards administrative spectrum assignment which undermines rms of Telecommunications Act, 2023. It said that Telecommunication Act, 2023 emphasises auction as default method for assigning spectrum for commercial services.

"We respectfully urge Trai to reconsider and revise consultation paper, incorporating specific questions that address level-playing field issues between satellite and terrestrial networks. Both auction and administrative assignment methods should remain open for stakeholders' input, with due consideration given to competitive fairness," Jio said.

Trai has invited comments on 21 points, including a method for determining spectrum charges, frequency bands for satellite communications services, duration of assignment, and provision for surrendering spectrum, etc. regulator has fixed October 18 for comments and October 25 for counter comments on paper.