Airtel says satcom players using mobile spectrum must face same rules

Satcom players intending to use spectrum used by mobile service providers should face rules similar to those that apply to telecom players, a senior Bharti Airtel official said on Friday.

Telecom operators in India are currently required to get spectrum for mobile services only through auction, while satellite players have been allowed to get spectrum through an administrative process.

Bharti Airtel Director for Corporate Affairs and Group Chief Regulatory Officer Rahul Vatts told PTI at India Mobile Congress that services satcom players provide through administrative allocation differ from the new Direct-to-Device technology, in which satellites can transmit signals directly to mobile devices.

"Direct-to-device is a little different situation where the spectrum is actually being used by what is currently being used by mobile players. If the satellite intends to use the similar spectrum that is being used by mobile players, then naturally every condition which we have been through with regard to pricing, licensing conditions, security - they have to be similar for anybody," he said.

Under the Telecommunications Act, 2023, spectrum allocation to satellite communication companies through the administrative method means no auction for point-to-point connections.

Satellite players have opposed allocation of spectrum to them through auction on technical grounds. In the submission before telecom regulator Trai, satcom players argued that the same set of frequencies are used by other players and the radiowaves cannot be exclusively owned by one company like in the case of mobile operators.

While satcom players successfully lobbied the government to favour spectrum allocation through administration, Musk-led Starlink has acquired spectrum in the 800 MHz band to provide mobile services from space.

Starlink has announced that signals transmitted in the 800 MHz band will penetrate obstacles such as walls and can provide service to customers' devices even inside buildings.

"Direct-to-Device is a situation where the spectrum is being used in the mobile phone. The government of India has enshrined a policy that this spectrum must be auctioned. Also we all have to be cognizant of the orders of the court on what they have said in the past," Vatts said.

The Supreme Court in the 2G case in 2012, ordered that any spectrum meant for commercial use should be allocated through auction.

Vatts said that if spectrum is used for mobility and has economic value, the precedent for its allocation should continue.

(Except for the headline, Fortune India has not edited the content of this PTI report.)