TRAI proposes satellite Internet pricing, framework

• TRAI recommends fixed satellite services like Starlink to pay a 4% spectrum usage fee and a ₹500 annual fee per urban subscriber.

• The recommendations move India closer to accessing satellite Internet services similar to Starlink’s.

• TRAI rejects satellite Internet as a threat to terrestrial mobile and fixed line networks, stating that total bandwidth on satellite networks is lower and spectrum can be shared among providers.

• The recommendations come two days after the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) issued a letter of intent to Starlink, which needs to acquire spectrum under the TRAI’s terms.

• Starlink’s proposed spectrum will last for five years, extendable by two years.

• An authorization fee of 8% will apply, likely to make Starlink services more expensive than the ₹4,200 or the price for the service in Bhutan.