Satellite communication (Satcom) services through low-earth-orbit satellites has invited attention of the telecom players and others in India.

The spectrum for Satcom services is started as a common resource all over the world. Satellite spectrum is authorised for ‘right to use’ by all administrations. It is allocated only by administrative process at charges essentially covering cost of administration.

Telecom operators here have been assigned terrestrial spectrum by auctioning it. It has been assigned exclusively to specific operators. Satellite spectrum is never exclusively assigned. It is shared among multiple operators for different orbital slots and all types of satellites.

Though Bharti who has tied up with OneWeb for satellite communication and is also in terrestrial spectrum is silent about how to allocate such services — could it be through auctions or otherwise? Vodafone-Idea and Jio are against sharing and for auctions.

As we already know, satellite communications is useful in providing internet in mountaineous and remote regions. It is useful to manage disasters and crisis.

Google, Hughes are against auctions for Satcom. Satellite spectrum is reused by multiple satellites.