Debate over satellite spectrum allocation: Jio, One Web up the ante

In a new development in the ongoing spectrum battle, India's largest telecommunications carrier by subscriber count, Reliance Jio, has written to the regulator, arguing that the Telecommunications Act, 2023, does not mandate "administrative allocation as the only method of assignment" for satellite operators.

- SURAJEET DAS GUPTA

Jio contends that the Act includes provisions allowing the government to amend the First Schedule, which currently lists services where spectrum can be assigned administratively, including global mobile personal communications by satellite (GMPCS).

In its response on August 16, Jio rejected the claim made by a stakeholder that spectrum should continue to be assigned administratively to satellite operators. Sunil Mittal's OneWeb had earlier insisted that spectrum allocation for satellite operators be done administratively as outlined in the Act — setting up a direct confrontation with Jio.

The new Telecommunications Act lists 19 services in the First Schedule where spectrum can be assigned administratively. Initially, GMPCS was not part of this Schedule during the draft stage.