Satcom spectrum: Jio seeks govt's intervention for level-playing field

NEW DELHI: Telecom operator Reliance Jio has sought Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia's intervention to get regulator Trai issue a revised consultation paper on a proposed spectrum allocation rule to ensure a level-playing field between terrestrial and satellite players.

Reliance Jio, in its letter to telecom minister Scindia, referred to the Supreme Court's judgement in 2G case and indicated that Trai's failure to incorporate questions on level-playing field may lead to legal tussles.

The letter came after Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) rejected Jio's request for incorporating questions around the level-playing field between terrestrial network players that provide mobile phone services using towers installed on ground and those seeking to offer satellite-based communication services.

On September 27, 2024, Trai floated a consultation process to explore methodology and price for assigning spectrum to satellite companies to provide calling, messaging, broadband and other services in the country.