As India prepares to roll out satellite internet, security checks, spectrum pricing debates, and policy disputes are shaping government plans and market players’ plight.
Satellite communication services in India will be launched after operators meet security conditions set by national agencies, Union Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia has said to Press Trust of India (PTI). Companies including Starlink, Eutelsat, OneWeb and Jio Satellite are expected to begin services once they comply with security requirements and once spectrum pricing is finalised.
The government is preparing to allocate spectrum soon. This will follow the decisions of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on pricing. The provisional spectrum has already been provided to players to demonstrate compliance. Operators must ensure secure international gateways and guarantee that critical user data remains within India.
Scindia confirmed that satcom companies are currently working with authorities to meet these standards. He expressed hope that pending issues would be resolved in the near future. However, differences remain between DoT and TRAI over several aspects of satellite spectrum policy.
Earlier in December 2025, TRAI rejected several DoT proposals, including a proposal to charge a 5% annual spectrum fee instead of 4%, and to remove the ₹500 per-connection urban fee. The Digital Communication Commission will now review the matter and may seek Cabinet approval.
The minister also addressed the situation of Vodafone Idea. He said the government is still evaluating the company’s request for relief. Vodafone Idea has liabilities of around ₹2 trillion, including ₹1.19 trillion in spectrum dues.
Without support, the firm has warned of significant financial implications and risks to market stability. Scindia stressed that the government has not provided fresh relief to date, aside from converting dues worth about ₹370 billion into a 49% equity stake.
He added that India still has a robust telecommunications market with four major operators and large subscriber bases, including Vodafone Idea’s 210 million users and BSNL’s 100 million customers, and the government seeks to maintain this structure.
