SATELLITE SPECTRUM

TAG: GS-3: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

THE CONTEXT: During the India Mobile Congress, the telecom minister decided to allocate satellite communication spectrum administratively.

EXPLANATION:

More about news:

• The government has chosen to allocate satellite communication (satcom) spectrum through administrative means, rejecting the auction route.
• This development underscores the growing competition for satellite services in the Indian market, which is projected to grow at 36 per cent annually and reach $1.9 billion by 2030.
• Starlink, Musk’s company, advocates for direct licensing, aligning with global practices and arguing that spectrum, as a natural resource, should be shared.
• On the other hand, Reliance, led by Ambani, believes that an auction is necessary to ensure fair competition.

What are Airwaves/Spectrum?

• Airwaves are radio frequencies within the electromagnetic spectrum that can carry information wirelessly for a range of services including telecommunications.
• The government manages and allocates airwaves to companies or sectors for their use.
• The government auctions a fixed amount of spectrum within specified band/s to be utilised by operators for providing communication services to consumers.

What is Satellite spectrum?

• Satellite spectrum refers to the range of radio frequencies used by satellites to communicate with ground stations, other satellites, and various devices on Earth.
• These frequencies are part of the electromagnetic spectrum, specifically the radio waves, and are allocated for different satellite services, such as communication, broadcasting, navigation, and Earth observation.
• The use of satellite spectrum is regulated by international bodies like the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
• ITU coordinates and allocates frequencies to prevent interference between different satellite systems and other forms of communication.

Satellite Frequency Bands:

• L-band (1-2 GHz): Used for GPS and mobile satellite services.
• S-band (2-4 GHz): Used for weather radar, air traffic control, and mobile satellite services.
• C-band (4-8 GHz): Commonly used for satellite TV broadcasting and data communications.
• X-band (8-12 GHz): Used primarily by the military for radar and communication.
• Ku-band (12-18 GHz) and Ka-band (26-40 GHz): Used for satellite television, internet, and high-throughput data transmission.

Key differences between auction and administrative allocation of spectrum

Satellite spectrum to be allocated administratively in India:

• Unlike terrestrial spectrum, which is used for mobile communications, satellite spectrum has no national territorial limits and is international in character.
• Satellite spectrum is shared spectrum. If the spectrum is shared, then it cannot be priced individually.
• As a result, satellite spectrum across the world is allocated administratively.
• India, being a signatory of ITU, decided to follow the global practice of allocating satellite spectrum administratively.
• The Telecommunications Act, 2023, had also added spectrum for satellite communication in the list of administrative allocation.

Spectrum allocation controversies in India:

• India’s spectrum allocation has been controversial, especially due to the shift from auctions to administrative assignments, highlighted by the 2G spectrum scam.
• The scam involved allocating licenses on a first-come, first-served basis, resulting in significant financial losses, with alleged damages of Rs 30,984 crore and a presumptive loss of Rs 1.76 trillion.
• Following this, the Supreme Court mandated auctions for spectrum allocation in 2012.
• Despite this, the Telecommunications Act 2023 introduced a non-auction route for allocating satellite spectrum, marking a shift in the regulatory approach.

Source:

https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/what-is-satellite-spectrum-why-most-countries-prefer-not-to-hold-auctions-9632113/