India’s Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on Friday initiated a public consultation on licensing framework for satellite-based connectivity for low bit rate applications for both commercial and captive usage.

Considering constraints in the existing provisions in respect of proposed satellite based low bit-rate services, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) was of the opinion there was a need for suitable licensing framework providing such services both on commercial as well as captive usage and requested TRAI to examine all the factors holistically to c recommend enabling provisions under the existing licensing framework of DoT, or a new licensing framework.

Issues for consultation include the following topics, amongst others:

(i) Whether both the models should be permitted to provide satellite connectivity for IoT devices and low-bit-rate applications.

(ii) Is there any other suitable model through which the satellite-based connectivity can be provided for IoT devices?

(iii) Satellite-based low-bit-rate connectivity is possible using geo stationary, medium and LEO satellites. Whether all the above type of satellites should be permitted to be used for providing satellite-based low-bit-rate connectivity?

(iv) There are different frequency bands in which communication satellites operate such as L-band, S-band, C-band, Ku-band, Ka- band. Whether any specific band or all the bands should be allowed for providing satellite-based IoT connectivity.

(v) Whether a new licensing framework should be proposed for the provision of satellite-based connectivity for low-bit-rate applications or the existing licensing framework may be suitably amended to include the provisioning of such connectivity

(vi) Commercial VSAT CUG service authorization permits provision of data connectivity using VSAT terminals to CUG users.

Whether the scope of commercial VSAT CUG Service authorization should be enhanced to permit the use of any technology and any kind of ground terminals to provide the satellite-based low-bit-rate connectivity for IoT devices?

(vii) Whether the licensees should be permitted to obtain satellite bandwidth from foreign satellites in order to provide low-bit-rate applications and IoT connectivity.

The full consultation paper could be accessed at TRAI website at https://www.trai.gov.in/sites/default/files/CP_12032021_0.pdf.