TRAI extends timetable for satellite gateways
December 15, 2021
By Chris Forrester
India’s telecoms regulator TRAI has extended its timetable deadlines for would-be satellite operators to establish – and license – their Earth station gateways.
December 13th was the original closing date for submissions but this has been extended to December 20th. Counter-comments can now be submitted with a January 3rd closing date.
TRAI, as part of its request, is also seeking suggestions on the “operational scope,” and associated “financial obligations,” of such permit, including licence fees, entry fees, bank guarantees and network operation & control centre (NOCC) charges.
The gateways route satellite data traffic onward either into the Internet or forward onto a satellite.
However, Elon Musk’s 2nd Generation Starlinks are now being built with inter-satellite connectivity. It is also known that OneWeb is planning a similar approach to its next-generation satellites. They are reported to be filing their submissions into TRAI. Also expected to be pitching their ideas are Canada’s Telesat and Jeff Bezos-backed Kuiper, and others.