Govt allocation of satellite spectrum not meant to favour any company: Minister

New Delhi: The communications ministry has denied that the decision to administratively allocate satellite spectrum was meant to facilitate entry of Elon Musk's satellite internet company Starlink in India.

"No sir. The Telecommunications Act, 2023 provides for assignment of spectrum through administrative process for satellite-based services, listed in first schedule of the Act," the minister of state for communications and rural development, Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar, said in reply to a question if the decision was made to facilitate Starlink's entry into the Indian market.

To a query around the projected revenue loss arising as a result of not auctioning satellite spectrum, the minister said spectrum assigned administratively is also chargeable, and hence contributes to revenue.


On measures taken by the government to ensure that Starlink is not used by non-state actors or hostile nations against India, the minister said that DoT grants authorisations under unified license for providing satellite-based commercial communication services.