Union Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia emphasized that Starlink, Elon Musk’s satellite communication company, must meet all security regulations before obtaining a license to offer services in India. Speaking in New Delhi, Scindia clarified that the government remains open to granting Starlink the necessary permissions once it satisfies all regulatory requirements. “We are more than happy to give them a license if they comply with all the conditions,” he stated, citing the importance of addressing security concerns before issuing the approval, as reported by PTI.
Currently, Bharti Group-backed OneWeb and Jio-SES’s Jio Satellite Communications have obtained licenses to offer satellite communication services but are awaiting spectrum allocation. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is expected to provide its recommendations on spectrum allocation guidelines for satellite communication by December 15, which the government will review before finalizing rules and pricing.
Minister Scindia also addressed telecom operators’ call for a revenue-sharing model with over-the-top (OTT) services like WhatsApp, Zoom, and Google Meet. An advisory committee has been established, and TRAI is in the early stages of reviewing operator feedback on this proposal.
Credit: This article is based on information from PTI and official statements from the Telecom Ministry.
Key Highlights:
- Starlink must complete security compliance to secure a satellite communication license in India.
- Bharti’s OneWeb and Jio Satellite Communications are licensed but await spectrum allocation rules from TRAI.
- TRAI’s recommendations on satellite spectrum are expected by December 15, paving the way for satellite-based broadband services.
- Scindia confirmed ongoing discussions on revenue-sharing requests by telecom operators with OTT communication platforms.