India’s government has defended its satellite communication licensing process after questions were raised over why Elon Musk’s Starlink internet services hadn’t been launched in the country yet.
Government sources said approval framework is transparent and all satellite communication companies have to meet same regulatory and security requirements before starting commercial operations.
Starlink was the last among the three licensed satellite communication providers to submit its application and also the last to submit security compliance documents. Eutelsat OneWeb submitted its compliance docs first, followed by Reliance Jio while Starlink was the last to reach this stage.
The government has said India welcomes all companies that want to enter the satellite communication market. Officials said consumers would have to decide which provider they wanted to use based on pricing, service quality and value offered.
Three companies receive satellite communication licences
At present there are three companies that have been granted licences to provide satellite communication services in India Elon Musk’s Starlink, Reliance Jio’s satellite communication venture and Bharti backed Eutelsat OneWeb.
All three companies have obtained licences but a licence does not mean they can start commercial operations; they must first comply with the security conditions imposed by government.
Officials said licensing was done transparently and no company is being singled out for preferential treatment. All licensed satellite communication providers are subject to the same regulatory regime.
Security clearance remains a key requirement
Security compliance is one of the most important stages before satellite internet services can be commercially available in India. The government wants operators to show that their networks meet national security requirements and protect the information of Indian users.
The conditions are to ensure that satellite communication services operate within India’s regulatory regime. They also cover issues of data protection, lawful interception and network monitoring.
The Department of Telecommunications and security agencies are involved in examining the compliance submissions. Companies may also need to answer additional questions or concerns raised during assessment.
Spectrum allocation and pricing still matter
Apart from security clearance, spectrum allocation and pricing are also important in deciding when satellite internet services can be introduced commercially.
Satellite operators need access to suitable spectrum in order to provide connectivity to customers. The government needs to set the allocation framework and charges for that before companies can expand their services.
Once the security conditions and spectrum-related requirements are met, companies can move towards commercial operations.
Competition could expand India's internet connectivity
The entry of satellite internet providers could also add competition to the telecommunications industry in India. Satellite connectivity is particularly important for villages in remote areas, mountainous regions, coastal communities and places where traditional broadband infrastructure can’t be established.
Starlink’s entry could give customers another option if fibre and mobile aren’t enough. Jio and OneWeb are also getting ready to enter this market too.
The government’s latest clarification was that it wants all operators to have a common regulatory framework. Officials say they won’t decide which company should dominate the market but consumers will.
For now, the focus is on completing security assessments and ironing out the remaining regulatory requirements before satellite internet services can be rolled out more widely in India.
Comments