Satcom Rollout After Security Clearances: Scindia

New Delhi: Satellite communication services will be rolled out in India once operators, including Elon Musk-owned Starlink, comply with security requirements, Union Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said.

In an interview, the minister said spectrum allocation to satcom players, Starlink, Eutelsat OneWeb and Jio SGS, will begin after the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) finalises spectrum pricing. He said licence holders must meet security conditions, including ensuring data localisation and compliance related to international gateways. Provisional spectrum has already been allotted to enable companies to demonstrate compliance, he added.

Scindia said spectrum pricing is under discussion between the DoT and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai), and a resolution is expected soon. The issue will be placed before the Digital Communication Commission, which may seek Cabinet approval.

On Vodafone Idea (VIL), the minister said the DoT is still examining the company’s request for relief. He clarified that no fresh relief has been granted so far, noting that the government had earlier converted dues of about ₹37,000 crore into equity, giving it a 49 per cent stake in the company.

Scindia said the government wants to maintain a competitive telecom market with four operators, pointing out that India currently has four robust telcos, with Vodafone Idea and BSNL serving about 210 million and 100 million customers respectively.