TRAI Recommends New Satellite Network Provider Authorisation

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India released its recommendations on 5 November 2026 for a framework to authorise Satellite Communication Network (SCN) providers and to assign them spectrum. The exercise began when the Department of Telecommunications told the regulator in July 2025 that it wanted a new SCN authorisation under Section 3(1)(b) of the Telecommunications Act, 2023, and asked for the terms for spectrum on both feeder and user links. TRAI put out a consultation paper in April 2026, received comments from 31 stakeholders and counter-comments from 12, and held an open house in July 2026 before finalising its advice.

The new authorisation

TRAI wants a separate authorisation created under Section 3(1)(b) of the Act. The holder would sell Satellite Communication Network as a Service (SCNaaS) to eligible service providers but would not be allowed to serve end users directly. The authorisation would cover the whole national area, run for a maximum of 20 years and be renewable for up to another 20 years. Through these networks, Fixed Satellite Service, Mobile Satellite Service, and direct-to-device services over both MSS and IMT spectrum would be permitted.

Spectrum and bands

An authorised SCN provider could ask the Central Government for FSS spectrum for feeder links and FSS or MSS spectrum for user links, or use spectrum already held by a partner service provider, in which case the right to use stays with the partner. Assignment would be administrative, aligned with the National Frequency Allocation Plan of 2025, and valid for up to five years, extendable by up to two more.

Direct-to-device

MSS-based direct-to-device service using L-band and S-band is to be allowed, and the government is urged to push handset makers to build the needed modules into smartphones sold in India. IMT-based direct-to-device service may begin on a non-interference, non-protection footing under Article 4.4 of the ITU Radio Regulations, without waiting for WRC-2027. The FDD bands cleared for it are 600 MHz, 700 MHz, 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz and 2100 MHz, and it can run only if access providers together holding that channel across all 22 licensed service areas agree.

Money terms

The authorisation fee is set at 8 per cent of adjusted gross revenue, with no minimum. Spectrum assigned by the Centre would attract a yearly minimum charge of Rs 3,500 per MHz, and NGSO-based FSS charges would differ between urban and rural areas. TRAI says it has kept regulatory parity between a vertically integrated operator and an unbundled, shared-network model.