India’s satellite-to-phone plan faces industry divide over telecom-led model

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories.High up in the mountains or deep in the jungles, your smartphone may still stay connected, thanks to direct-to-device (D2D) satellite technology making its way to India. However, the technology has opened up divisions, as telecom operators, satellite service providers and broadband firms spar over customer control, spectrum, and launch timelines.The department of telecommunications (DoT) has proposed a 'wholesale' model for satellite communications like D2D, which is currently under the telecom regulator's consultation process.

This means the satellite company sells its services to the telecom operator, which resells them to the final customer. Operators such as Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone Idea have aggressively defended this model on the grounds of continuity, while some satellite firms assert it will lead to connectivity gaps and poor competition.Satellite broadband services such as Starlink, Jio Satellite and OneWeb typically require dedicated user terminal (such as a dish or antenna) to capture signals, while under D2D, the smartphone directly receives the satellite signal.

In India, Starlink and others have already received licences and are awaiting spectrum, while D2D has just entered the consultation stage.“It is essential to adopt a telecom service provider-led service delivery model, wherein D2D services are anchored with licensed TSPs. This will ensure continuity with the existing telecom regulatory framework, including obligations relating to lawful interception, quality of service, and consumer protection,” Reliance Jio wrote to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) in response to its 8 April consultation paper on the satellite communication network