Elon Musk has also given his opinion to the demand for fair competition in the Indian satellite telecommunications market even as Reliance Jio, Airtel, and Vodafone Idea have their concerns as Starlink is set to enter the Indian market.
In response to an X post of the telecom companies’ issues, Musk commented, “Fair competition would be much appreciated.” This as the Indian government moves forward with its plans for licensing and spectrum allocation for satellite-based services.
Telecom Giants vs. Starlink
Jio, Airtel and Vodafone Idea have gone to the government with a petition that TRAI has favoured satellite spectrum over terrestrial spectrum that they hold. The companies claim that satellite operators should be subject to the same price regulations and regulatory fees to avoid them having an advantage over the other.
Under the Telecommunications Act 2023, satellite spectrum is allocated discretionarily by the government while terrestrial spectrum is auctioned at very high prices. Telecom firms are complaining that Starlink and other satellite operators should not be given preferential pricing and must operate on a level field in the urban and semi-urban centers.
Future of Indian Satcom Market
The telecom firms are worried of having an oversupply in the broadband sector, claiming that LEO mega constellations offer speeds that are comparable with terrestrial networks. However, they are not opposed to lower pricing for government and disaster recovery purposes, but they want commercial satellite operators to pay the normal prices for their services.
The Indian satcom market is getting ready to be disrupted by Starlink and the regulatory decisions that will be made will play a big role in the competition of the growing industry.
