India Paves Stellar Path: Regulator Recommends 5-Year Spectrum Orbit Ahead of Starlink’s Touchdown

India's telecommunication regulator TRAI suggested a five-year satellite spectrum band allocation for commercial broadband services that may be optionally extended by another two years-a move that will rewrite the country's digital story as Starlink draws nearer to becoming operational for business. The spectrum will not be auctioned but allocated through administrative means in order to instill investment and rapid rollout, especially in distant and underserved areas.

 

TRAI’s proposal includes a 4% charge on adjusted gross revenue (AGR) for all satellite service providers, with a minimum annual fee of ₹3,500 per MHz. Urban subscribers will see an extra ₹500 charge per year, while rural users are exempt, reinforcing the focus on bridging the digital divide.

 

Starlink, being marketed by Elon Musk, has just received a Letter of Intent to initiate services in India pending final licensing. Starlink has tied up with Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel to provide hardware distribution and activation support, which is a major shift in India's broadband scenario.

 

Source: India Today, Inc42, Business Today