The Division of Telecommunications (DoT) has granted a six-month extension to Bharti Enterprises-backed Eutelsat OneWeb and the Jio-SES three way partnership, Orbit Join India, permitting continued use of provisional satellite tv for pc spectrum till November 2025. The extension gives extra time for each firms to adjust to the federal government’s new obligatory safety pointers issued in Could this yr, each Moneycontrol and Livemint reported, citing officers conversant in the matter.
Additionally Learn: TRAI Says Satcom Providers Complement and Do Not Compete With Terrestrial Networks
Necessary Safety Tips
In line with sources, each firms already maintain International Cell Private Communication by Satellite tv for pc (GMPCS) licenses however are but to meet the up to date safety necessities obligatory for industrial service rollout. Formal extension letters are anticipated to be issued to all eligible GMPCS licensees by subsequent week.
“The extension comes as a aid for the operators that have been but to adjust to the federal government’s lately launched safety pointers, a pre-requisite for launching industrial providers in India,” one of many officers was quoted as saying.
Additionally Learn: Vodafone Thought and AST SpaceMobile Accomplice to Deliver Satellite tv for pc Broadband Connectivity to India
“There is no such thing as a official spectrum allocation coverage but, so the division needed to prolong the provisional spectrum timeline for the businesses, particularly as new use instances for the know-how proceed to emerge,” an individual conversant in the matter was quoted as saying. The extension follows a request made by present license holders in March in search of extra time to align with the brand new regulatory framework.
“The prevailing GMPCS license holder had written to the division in March when beforehand allocation of provisional spectrum was acquired, they usually sought an extension to adjust to new safety pointers.”
Information Localisation, Geo-Fencing & Monitoring
The up to date safety framework mandates satellite tv for pc operators to ascertain information centres inside India, allow lawful interception and web site blocking, combine assist for India’s NavIC navigation system, and decide to phased native manufacturing. Every gateway should obtain particular person safety clearance, with geo-fencing enforced in delicate areas.
Additionally Learn: India Tightens Safety Norms for Satellite tv for pc Communication Providers
Operators should additionally be sure that all consumer visitors is routed by Indian infrastructure, prohibit direct satellite-to-satellite communication that bypasses home gateways, and implement real-time monitoring and terminal registration. Gadgets should report dwell location information at intervals of both each 2.6 kilometers or each minute, whichever happens first. Unregistered or international terminals will solely be permitted after verification.
These circumstances have to be met earlier than launching providers, along with compliance with the DoT’s technical requirements governing non-geostationary satellite tv for pc orbit (NGSO) programs, electronically steerable antennas (ESIM), and conveyable earth stations (TES).
“There might be delays in launching industrial providers if firms do not fulfil safety necessities in a well timed method,” one other individual was quoted as saying.
TRAI Suggestions Underneath Evaluate
In the meantime, SpaceX-owned Starlink continues to await provisional spectrum clearance, pending touchdown rights approval—a prerequisite for operation in India. The DoT is at present within the strategy of finalizing satellite tv for pc spectrum pricing and rollout norms, following suggestions submitted by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).
You too can be a part of the TelecomTalk WhatsApp Group, TelecomTalk WhatsApp Channel or Telegram group Telecom Circle for updates and discussions.
