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India Telecommunications Bill under debate

Indian telcos and their satellite partners will have to wait some time to access new satellite spectrum over the nation. A new Telecommunications Bill is now under debate and this is not likely to be finally decided and approved until a planned budget session in February 2024. The various authorities will then need time to […]

December 21, 2023

Data: India’s DTH subs fall

India’s four giant DTH operators saw a fall in their combined subscriber numbers according to data from regulator TRAI. Tata Sky, Airtel Digital TV, Dish TV and Sun Direct saw combined subscriber numbers fall slightly from 68.89 million in September 2021 to 68.52 million in December 2021. There are more DTH viewers in the service […]

May 11, 2022By Chris Forrester

TRAI extends timetable for satellite gateways

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 […]

December 15, 2021By Chris Forrester

India wants new satellite gateways

India’s telecom regulator TRAI is inviting comments and ideas as to how the nation can set up new satellite gateways and Earth stations which are needed to cope with rising demand for satellite-based connectivity. TRAI, working to a brief from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) earlier in September, is to supply recommendations covering the licencing […]

November 17, 2021By Chris Forrester

TRAI plans licensing for Starlink/OneWeb

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) says it will shortly publish a “comprehensive” consultation paper on the licensing framework for satellite operators such as Elon Musk’s Starlink and Bharti’s OneWeb. The document will cover the setting up of Satellite Earth Station gateways, which are needed to route transmissions to and from the orbiting satellites. […]

October 12, 2021By Chris Forrester

India upholds TRAI tariffs

India’s High Court says the government’s changes to TV ‘a la carte’ channel tariffs are fair, although it has ruled against some of the Telecom Regulatory Authority (TRAI) proposals. The TRAI proposals were mooted in January last year but faced numerous objections. The Bombay High Court ruled that the TRAI, in its new levy, could […]

July 6, 2021By Chris Forrester

India seeks SpaceX Starlink permits

Local reports in India say that its government will demand that SpaceX applies for the relevant permits and to show compliance with India’s telecom rules before it starts offering its satellite broadband Starlink service. India’s telecoms regulator TRAI and Dept. of Telecommunications (DoT) say they are asking SpaceX to outline its plans in order that […]

April 26, 2021By Chris Forrester

Forecast: 134m India pay-TV subs by 2025

A report by Media Partners Asia (MPA) indicates that India’s pay-TV industry will grow at ~7 per cent CAGR between 2020-25 as total industry revenues, including subscription and advertising, reach $12.3 billion (€10.3bn) by 2025. The report, titled India Pay-TV Distribution 2021, predicts that

April 12, 2021

SpaceX faces regulatory hurdles in India

India’s TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) regulator has been asked to object to Elon Musk’s plan to offer his Starlink broadband-by-satellite service to India. TRAI, as well as India’s Space Research Organisation (ISRO), are being asked to object to SpaceX’s Starlink deployment by a group of technology giants under the umbrella Broadband India Forum […]

April 6, 2021By Chris Forrester

TRAI wants New Tariff Order 2.0 on channels

India’s telecoms regulator (TRAI) has lodged an application before the Bombay High Court for a New Tariff Order. This is the second attempt by TRAI to see consumers protected from what it alleges could be “deceptive” practices by cable operators. TRAI had initiated a similar action a year ago but was thwarted by local cable […]

February 23, 2021By Chris Forrester