India chooses Elon Musk Without Auctions!!
In a significant move for the satellite communication sector, india announced on tuesday that it will allocate spectrum for satellite services through administrative means rather than through auctions. This decision data-aligns with recent comments made by Elon Musk and stands in stark contrast to the lobbying efforts of the country’s largest telecom operators, notably reliance Jio.
Communications minister Jyotiraditya Scindia emphadata-sized the rationale behind this approach, stating, “Spectrum for satcomm is shared spectrum and cannot be auctioned. The administrative allocation of satellite spectrum is practiced worldwide.” This policy shift supports initiatives like Musk's Starlink and Amazon’s Project Kuiper, which have long advocated for shared spectrum allocation.
Musk had previously warned that conducting spectrum auctions for satellite services would be “unprecedented,” pointing to established international Telecommunication Union (ITU) designations of shared satellite spectrum. This perspective clashes with that of reliance Jio, led by India’s richest man mukesh Ambani, who has been a strong proponent of auctions to ensure a “level playing field” in the burgeoning market.
The announcement heightens the competition among billionaires for dominance in India's satellite internet sector. sunil Mittal, co-chair of Eutelsat and chair of Bharti airtel, voiced his dissent earlier on tuesday, arguing that satellite companies operating in urban areas should “take the telecom licenses like everybody else” and procure spectrum through traditional auction methods.
“Therefore, mobile operators and satcom operators, who have worked in harmony for decades, can continue to do so to serve those who are still struggling to find internet connectivity,” airtel stated in response to Mittal's comments.
As the landscape of satellite communications in india evolves, this decision marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing battle for market supremacy, potentially reshaping the future of internet access across the country.