Rollout of satellite network in India will the fastest globally, Scindia says

The rollout of satellite telecom network in India will be the fastest in the world, Union communications minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said on Tuesday, while pointing out a surge in satellite communication activity following telecom regulator Trai’s recent recommendations on spectrum allocation.

Scindia’s remarks came at a Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) event on World Telecom and Information Society Day.

“Trai has come out with its regulations for administrative assignment. Multiple players have applied for a license, and I am very confident that this rollout on the satellite network will probably be the fastest in the world in the years to come,” Scindia said, adding that the current satellite broadband market in India is at about $2.3 billion and is estimated to grow to nearly $20 billion by 2028.

Satellite technology will complement current terrestrial broadband and mobile services, and will particularly improve connectivity in remote areas where traditional telecom infrastructure is costly, the minister said.

He pointed to recent partnerships between major telecom providers Airtel and Jio with Starlink, which aim to offer high-speed satellite internet services in India.

Starlink is awaiting official authorization from Indian regulatory bodies, including IN-SPACe and the Department of Telecommunications.

Scindia said Trai’s recommendations involve administrative allocation of satellite communication spectrum and has a fee of 4% of the adjusted gross revenue (AGR).

After an approval by the cabinet, the spectrum will be allocated to companies for commercial deployment of satellite internet services.

“Trai has done its job of giving recommendations. Based on the recommendations, we will be able to push forward this policy. We were eager to push this policy as soon as possible. Trai has done its job, and now the onus is on the government,” Scindia said.

Additionally, the government has allocated Rs26,316 crore for setting up nearly 9,300 towers for 5G services, with plans for an additional 11,000 towers.

“Quality provision of our connectivity and cost is something that I have laid a lot of stress on in the last 11 months, since taking over this ministry. I’d also like to commend Trai for creating its quality standards. We must stress on six sigma. It’s important to ensure that we have the largest, second-largest market in the world, but it must also be defined by the highest cost quality of service in the world,” he said.