Kolkata : Airtel has always been at the forefront of bringing digital revolution and digital inclusion in the country, and is appreciative of various initiatives taken by the Government for fostering the same.
As a pan India terrestrial network operator, we understand the techno-commercial challenges that networks face in connecting the unconnected/rural/remote areas or maritime and aviation as also in
situations of disaster management.
This is where we acknowledge the potential of satellite communication (SATCOM) complementing the terrestrial networks–in bridging this digital inclusion gap.
Apropos, the recently released Telecommunications Act, 2023 has rightly included SATCOM in its ambit while assigning spectrum for SATCOM on an administrative basis. We continue to strongly support this approach.
SATCOM will act as a complementary service to terrestrial communication services in bridging digital inclusion gap and/or servicing the specific use cases of non-retail customers such as defense, cellular backhaul or in rural and remote areas.
Accordingly assignment of satellite spectrum on administrative basis can be done for such use cases. The only exception may be created for unhindered use by any government agency and for disaster management in any part of the country.
Since the DoT is in the process of framing rules under the Telecom Act, we sincerely believe that the above understanding will aappropriately reflect in the rules for SATCOM.
