Lok Sabha Question No. 3040 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-19
Subject: Space-Based Internet Services
Ministry: COMMUNICATION
Asked by: Shri Manish Tewari

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3040 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19 TH  MARCH, 2025

## SPACE-BASED INTERNET SERVICES

## 3040.   SHRI MANISH TEWARI:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATION be pleased to state:

(a) the manner in which the Union Government plans to regulate space-based internet services to  ensure  compliance  with  national  laws,  promote  fair  competition  and  address  issues  related  to spectrum allocation;

(b) the manner in which the Government will ensure transparency, fairness and optimal use of spectrum in satellite-based services when allocation is done administratively rather than through an auction;

- (c) the steps taken by the Government to regulate and facilitate the operation of space-based internet  services  in  the  country  particularly  in  light  of  the  growing  demand  for  high-speed connectivity in remote areas; and

(d) the mechanisms put in place by the Government to monitor and regulate the security protocols of space based internet providers to prevent misuse or security breaches?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT (DR. PEMMASANI CHANDRA SEKHAR)

(a) to (d) Department of Telecommunications grants authorizations under the Unified License (UL)  for  providing  Satellite-based  commercial  communication  services.  As  per  the  Unified Licensing  framework,  the  applicant  must  be  an  Indian  company  registered  under  the  Indian Companies Act-2013. The grant of license to provide Satellite-based Internet Service to an applicant is  subject  to  compliance  with  the  applicable  licensing  terms  and  conditions,  including  security conditions and relevant national laws. The security conditions include, inter alia, facility to monitor all telecom traffic, establishment of satellite earth station gateway(s) in India, all traffic originating or  terminating  in  India  shall  pass  through  the  satellite  earth  station  gateway(s)  located  in  India, creation of buffer zone along the international border. In case of violation of the license conditions, the licensor may take suitable action including suspension, revocation, or termination of the license; imposition of financial penalty on the licensee, etc.

Further, an Authorization from Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) is also required for any foreign or Indian satellite system/constellation to provide its space capacity over India.

The Telecommunications Act, 2023 provides for assignment of spectrum through administrative process for satellite-based services, listed in First Schedule of the Act. Further, in line with  The  Telecommunication  Act  2023,  the  Department  of  Telecommunications  (DoT)  on 11.07.2024 has sought the Recommendations of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on terms and conditions of spectrum assignment, including spectrum pricing, in respect of licensees

intending to provide satellite-based communication services while accounting for level playing field with terrestrial access services.

For ease-of-doing business, DoT's Satellite Communication Reforms-2022 have simplified the regulatory procedures and reduced financial charges on the licensees. The recent Space Sector reforms  enable  larger  participation  of  non-government  entities  for  building/leasing,  owning  and operating the satellite systems for providing satellite-based services. Many operators have applied for authorization for providing satellite communication over India.

*****