'Not an allocation like 2G services'; Union Minister's Big Statement on Satellite Spectrum Auction

Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia has shared major information for satellite communication services regarding the allocation of spectrum. The Union Minister said that the allocation of spectrum for satellite communication services will not be done on the lines of 'first come, first serve' like 2G services.

Addressing the India Economic Summit, the Telecom Minister said that it is not possible to auction spectrum for satellite services due to scientific constraints. He said, no country in the world auctions satellite spectrum because it is physically impossible to auction it. If you bring economic arguments then how will you allocate it administratively?

Scindia clearly said that the pricing is not going to be on a 'first come, first served' basis. Nothing like this is going to happen. This will be decided by the telecom regulator TRAI. The authority will decide the allocation price and on that basis, spectrum will be allocated to every person who gets the license.

Scindia said that there is a scientific logic and an economic logic associated with spectrum allocation. How can you auction something that is shared? You can only auction something that a particular person owns. Every country worldwide allocates satellite spectrum administratively due to its physics principles.

Let us tell you that the companies providing traditional telecom services have opposed the proposal to allocate satellite spectrum at the administrative level without auction. However, the government has denied this auction.

Regarding the loss-making state-run telecom company BSNL, the Telecom Minister said that the company has been making operating profit since 2021 and its revenue has also increased by about 12 per cent to Rs 21,000 crore. He said that BSNL had chosen to launch a network based on indigenously developed technology. Due to which it has been a little late in introducing 4G services.

Scindia said, we have installed about 62,000 towers so far. India is only the fifth country in the world to have its own 4G hardware and its own 4G infrastructure. By May-June next year, one lakh towers will have been installed. He said that by June 2025, telecom connectivity will be available in every corner of the country.