Reliance Jio Challenges India’s Satellite Broadband Plans Over Spectrum Allocation

Reliance Jio has expressed strong opposition to India’s new satellite broadband plan, which suggests allocating satellite spectrum without auctions. This approach, known as administrative allocation, has been supported by global satellite companies like Starlink (owned by Elon Musk), Amazon’s Kuiper, and Bharti-backed OneWeb-Eutelsat. However, Jio believes it creates an unfair playing field.

Jio has invested heavily in its telecom networks and spectrum. The company argues that satellite services, which now compete with traditional telecom services, should follow the same rules, including buying spectrum through auctions. Jio recently wrote to the telecom minister, highlighting concerns about unfair competition.

India’s new Telecommunications Act exempts satellite broadband spectrum from auctions, but Jio claims this goes against fairness since telecom operators have spent large sums on spectrum purchases over the past decade. Jio insists satellite services should be regulated the same way as terrestrial telecom services to ensure equal competition.

Elon Musk, defending Starlink, responded that satellite spectrum has long been designated for shared use by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), and auctioning it would be unprecedented.

India’s telecom minister, Jyotiraditya Scindia, explained that while satellite spectrum will be allocated without auctions, it will not come for free—Trai (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) will decide its cost.

While Jio has pushed for auctions, other players like Bharti Airtel have suggested that satellite services should only be subject to the same regulations as telecom providers when serving urban customers, while satellite services in remote areas could still receive spectrum administratively.