Spectrum auction for satellite services not technically feasible: Jyotiraditya Scindia Telecom Minister

New Delhi [India]December 17 (ANI): Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said that satellite spectrum cannot be auctioned due to technical and operational reasons.

His statement came in response to allegations by Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, who accused the Modi government of supporting administrative allocation of spectrum for satellite communication services.

Some existing telecom operators are also opposed to administrative allocation of spectrum for satellite services on the grounds that it would not be a level playing field for them. Spectrum for telecommunications services is allocated through auctions.

Jairam Ramesh claimed in a social media post that “questions raised in Parliament have confirmed that the Modi government has decided to allocate spectrum for satellite communications administratively and not conduct auctions despite requests from many departments”.

Minister Scindia responded to the allegations in a social media post and explained the fundamental difference between terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks.

He noted that for terrestrial networks, the spectrum operates at much lower frequencies, so it can be allocated to a single entity.

“From an engineering and physics perspective, this spectrum can be auctioned because once assigned to a specific entity, no one else can use that frequency,” he said. However, satellite spectrum, such as that used in medium Earth orbit (MEO) and low earth orbit (LEO), has different capabilities.

Satellite spectrum operates at higher altitudes and frequencies and is therefore inherently shareable, Scindia noted. “This spectrum cannot be allocated to one person or one entity. It is shared in nature,” he clarified.

The minister stressed that this distinction is codified in Schedule 1 of the new Telecommunications Act 2023. Satellite spectrum in the Ku-band (around 14 GHz) and Ka-band (27.1 to 31 GHz) is inherently shareable, so auctioning is neither feasible nor desirable, he added.

Scindia also noted that satellite spectrum remains significantly underutilized and failure to allocate spectrum could lead to serious adverse consequences. These include potential losses in government revenue and missed opportunities to leverage technology to bridge the digital divide.

He further emphasized that no country in the world currently auctions satellite spectrum, emphasizing global standards.

Reacting to Congress’ criticism, Scindia accused the opposition of politicizing the issue. He recalled that during the UPA era, spectrum was allocated through an opaque first-come-first-served policy, leading to scams and financial losses.

In contrast, he said: “The Modi government prioritizes transparency and public interest in ensuring a fair auction of mobile phone spectrum.”

The minister also criticized the Congress for its historic defeat, claiming that the party put its own interests ahead of public welfare.

He said the Bharatiya Janata Party under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has always aimed at maximizing governance, while the Congress relied on “manufacturer consent” to advance its agenda. (Arnie)