In a major challenge for Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Jio and Sunil Mittal-owned Bharti Airtel, Elon Musk– the world’s richest man– has received the license to operate his Starlink satcom services in India. According to DoT sources, Starlink has received the required license, and will be granted trial spectrum in 15-20 days of applying for it, PTI reported.
Starlink is the third company after Jio and Airtel to secure the license from the Department of Telecom (DoT).
Airtel, Jio receive satcom license
On Thursday, Minister for Communications Jyotiraditya Scindia had told reporters that Sunil Mittal’s Airtel OneWeb and Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Jio have received licenses from the DoT to launch satellite internet services in India, adding that Starlink will be the third satcom firm to be given a similar license.
Scindia said spectrum allocation will take place once the license is provided.
“And after this, the government will provide the spectrum. Subsequently, satellite telecom services will be fully operational in the country at a rapid pace. I am sure the customer base in India will grow substantially. Starlink’s satellite connectivity is like a new flower in the telecom bouquet,” he stated.
“Earlier, there was only a fixed line. Today, there is mobile connectivity and broadband connectivity. Optical fibre connectivity has also come in. Along with these, satellite connectivity is also very important,” he quipped.
Scindia asserted that internet penetration can only be increased through satellite communication services, especially in remote areas where laying wires and installing towers would be difficult.
Jio, Airtel at odds with Starlink over spectrum allocation
Meanwhile, Reliance Jio and Airtel, two of India’s largest telecom service providers, who had earlier announced separate partnerships with Starlink to bring its high-speed satellite internet services to their customers in India, are once again at odds with the US-based satcom giant over spectrum allocation.
As per a report by the Times of India (TOI), domestic telecom providers, including Jio and Airtel, have objected to the recommendations made by TRAI regarding spectrum allocation to satcom companies, alleging that these are “non-transparent and non- justifiable”, and tilted in favor of satellite companies over domestic terrestrial operators.
