Calls to auction satcom spectrum 'unprecedented': Elon Musk

New Delhi: SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has termed as “unprecedented” the calls for auctioning satellite spectrum as demanded by country’s largest telecom operator Reliance Jio.

Reacting on X to a handle @ajtourville, who has mentioned about Jio’s demand to auction satellite spectrum, Musk said, “That would be unprecedented, as this spectrum was long designated by the ITU as shared spectrum for satellites.”

The reaction of Musk came late Monday night after Jio wrote to Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia seeking auction of satellite spectrum and reissuance of the consultation paper by Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) as key issue of level-playing field has been overlooked by the regulator.

Starlink, which is owned by SpaceX has applied for global mobile personal communications by satellite services (GMPCS) licence in India, but the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is yet to grant it as there are some compliance issues regarding data storage and transfer.

Starlink has already commenced putting direct to cell satellites in orbit.

Yesterday, ET reported about Jio’s demand of auctioning satellite spectrum. In the letter dated October 10, Jio has said several global satellite constellations like Starlink, Amazon Kuiper, Eutelsat-Oneweb, Telesat, and even its own satcom joint venture with SES, among others, are keen on obtaining spectrum and market access rights in India and these constellations will provide access, or mobility, services in future, thus directly competing with terrestrial networks.

The letter to the minister follows a similar letter addressed to Trai Chairman AK Lahoti a week back seeking revision of the consultation paper on spectrum pricing, as the aspect of level playing field has been overlooked. But the company said it has not received a favourable response from the regulator.

But Jio, in its latest letter, said even the reference sent by DoT to Trai seeking recommendations on the subject talked about level playing field, but the regulator has overlooked the issue.

The telco highlighted that due to technological advancements like non-geostationary satellite orbit (NGSO) systems, direct to device services, and convergence of satellite-based access services in IMT-advanced, distinctions between satellite and terrestrial systems have blurred. While satellite services complement terrestrial networks in some unconnected regions, they would be directly competing in covered areas.

While many thought the issue had been decided once the new Telecommunications Act—which backed administrative allocation for satcom airwaves—was notified.

But Jio has again opened the floor as it questioned the regulator’s tilt towards administrative allocation of satellite spectrum. The company said that while writing to Trai, DoT has not prescribed a specific methodology for spectrum assignment and instead left the matter open for discussion, with reference to the provisions of Section 4 read with the First Schedule of the Telecommunications Act.