SATELLITE SERVICES MARKET
Amazon's Project Kuiper in queue for satcom licence
Amazon is the fourth firm to seek such a licence in India to offer space communications services after Eutelsat OneWeb, Jio's satcom unit, and Starlink as competition in the still nascent Indian broadband-from-space market hots up.
Most telecoms want price reduction in 40GHz spectrum band
Telecom companies in India are advocating for a 50% reduction in the reserve price of newly identified high-frequency spectrum ranges in the 40GHz band, citing the high costs associated with building networks in these bands compared to lower frequency bands. This proposal comes ahead of India's first auction of mmWave spectrum for 5G services, encompassing frequency ranges critical for mobility and satellite communications.
Sri Lanka paves way for Musk's Starlink to enter telecoms market
Sri Lanka's parliament approved amendments to a decades-old law on Tuesday, enabling Elon Musk's Starlink, a satellite unit of SpaceX, to set up operations in the nation.
Satellite launch market grim, need to create internal demand: ISRO chairman S Somanath
ISRO chairman S Somanath stresses the need to create internal demand for rockets, referencing PSLVs, SpaceX, and Blue Origin's strategies.
Jio-SES JV Orbit Connect gets IN-SPACe authorisation to enter satcom space
Orbit Connect India, a joint venture between Reliance Jio Platforms and SES, has obtained crucial landing rights and market access authorizations from IN-SPACe, India's space regulator. This move positions Jio against Bharti Enterprises-backed Eutelsat OneWeb, Elon Musk's Starlink, and Amazon's Kuiper in India's satellite communications sector. Jio is also seeking trial satellite spectrum from the DoT for advanced trials on its nationwide satellite broadband network, aiming for an early allocation to begin trials.
Reliance's Jio Platforms clears hurdle in bid to launch satellite internet in India
Joint venture between Reliance Industries' Jio Platforms and SES, based in Luxembourg, has received the green light from the Indian space regulator to operate satellites in the country, according to a government official. Orbit Connect India, aimed at delivering high-speed internet access via satellites, has secured three approvals. This development emerges amidst a competitive landscape where companies like Amazon.com and Elon Musk's Starlink are seeking approval to launch satellite communication services in India, the world's most populous nation.
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Jyotiraditya Scindia takes charge as Minister of Communications
Union Minister of Communications Jyotiraditya Scindia has emphasized the importance of the telecom division and India post division on both a global and local level. Scindia, who has previously served as civil aviation minister in the Modi cabinet, pledged to deliver according to the Prime Minister's aspirations and the 140 crore people of the country. He also highlighted the challenges of overseeing India's 5G spectrum auction, retaining India's three-private player telecom market structure, and ensuring the survival of Vodafone Idea, the government's largest stakeholder.
Jyotiraditya Scindia is new telecom minister
Jyotiraditya Scindia, the Minister of Communications in the Modi Cabinet 3.0, faces key challenges in overseeing the 5G spectrum auction, ensuring the survival of Vodafone Idea, and implementing new telecom rules. His role also involves making decisions on satellite spectrum usage and improving the quality of telecom services for consumers. Scindia's return to the Cabinet marks a significant political journey from the Congress to the BJP, highlighting his academic background and past political affiliations.
Sri Lanka approves Starlink's satellite internet service, ushering in a new era of connectivity
In his post, President Wickremesinghe emphasized the transformative potential of this move for Sri Lanka, particularly for the country's youth.
Infra push, talent access helps satellite cities reshape India's commercial realty
India's commercial real estate landscape in satellite and tier II cities is undergoing significant transformation due to robust infrastructure development, strategic urban planning, talent availability, and lower cost of living. Cities like Navi Mumbai, Pune, Gurugram, Noida, and Hyderabad have seen extensive investment in road networks, metro connectivity, and digital infrastructure, making them attractive hubs for businesses.
NASA will soon provide advanced training to Indian astronauts: Eric Garcetti
The day-long event in Bengaluru garnered participation from senior officials from both the US and Indian governments, including Garcetti, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman Dr. Somanath. S, representatives from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the Government of India, as well as prominent leaders from the commercial space industry, industry stakeholders, venture capitalists, and market analysts.
DoT set to seek clarity, security clearance from NSCS on satcom
Officials familiar with the matter revealed that the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is expected to approach the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) to seek approval and clarification regarding satellite communications, particularly concerning data transfer, usage, and the equipment and components utilized in satellite gateways located in India.
Apple cofounder Wozniak's space startup Privateer buys Orbital Insight, raises $56.5 million
Privateer, founded in 2021 to help satellite operators navigate in Earth's increasingly crowded orbit, closed its Series A funding round in April, led by space-focused venture capital firm Aero X Ventures with other investors including Luxe Capital, Boca, Starburst, and the Winklevoss twins. The news is expected to be announced later on Monday.
Access to international orbital slots opens new doors for Indian satcom companies
Experts and industry executives said this will allow Indian players to tap surplus international satellite capacities to deliver satcom services at competitive rates in India.
Elon Musk's Starlink one step away from getting greenlit in India with in-principle govt nod
The Telecom Ministry has granted an in-principle approval to Elon Musk's Starlink for satellite communications services in India, ahead of Musk's visit to the country. The approval follows almost three-and-a-half years of deliberation and awaits final vetting by the Home Ministry. Once approved, Starlink will receive a Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite (GMPCS) license, a crucial step for offering satellite communication services in India.
Is Elon Musk's Starlink profitable? SpaceX satellites are money losers
Starlink, which provides space-based internet service to more than 2.6 million customers, often strips out the hefty cost of sending its satellites into space to make the non-public numbers look better to investors, these people said, asking not to be identified discussing private information. They describe the company’s accounting as “more of an art than a science” and say it’s not actually profitable based on an operational and ongoing basis.
Airtel versus Jio: More shots fired in the satcom space battle
Airtel and Jio stand sharply divided on various issues related to satcom and have battled each other over complexities that surround satcom. The rivalry between the two biggies, with other satcom players also divided sharply, continues. A few days ago, they locked horns over the usage and price of satcom.
Bharti Airtel rejects Jio view on commercial usage of allocated satcom spectrum
Vodafone Idea (Vi) plans to raise funds via a preferential share issue on April 6, following shareholders' approval of a proposal to raise ₹20,000 crore through equity and equity-linked instruments. The company expects to complete the equity fund raise by the end of June, with promoters expected to infuse around ₹2,000 crore.
Jio against commercial use of satellite spectrum without auction
Reliance Jio has urged the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) not to allow satellite spectrum allocated administratively for commercial services like fixed wireless access (FWA), as it considers FWA a 5G use case that should only use auctioned spectrum. The company suggested that if DoT permits FWA for satellite communication (satcom) players, the companies that bought spectrum in an auction for FWA should be refunded. The DoT is currently working on rules for administratively allocating spectrum for satellite communication services, including global mobile personal communication by satellite services (GMPCS) holders.
Eutelsat OneWeb looks to pull ahead of Starlink, Jio in satellite broadband race
Top company officials said Eutelsat OneWeb has received the demo or 'trial' satellite spectrum in both the 'Ka' and 'Ku' bands for a 90-day span via the administrative route at a nominal application fee. To be sure, unlike rival Starlink, which will directly offer retail users satellite internet services, Eutelsat OneWeb will operate purely on a B2B model.
ASK Investment Managers launches its first satellite PMS targeting transformative sectors
This portfolio is suitable for UHNIs, HNIs, family offices, corporate treasuries, and private family trusts that are looking for diversification solutions for their portfolios.
State-run IIFCL seeks infrastructure tag for space sector
State-run infrastructure financing firm IIFCL has proposed that the space sector should be classified as part of the infrastructure sector. IIFCL has disbursed around ₹18,000 crore in loans in FY24 and is providing transaction advisory services to India's premier space agency, ISRO. The government has reviewed the extant foreign direct investment (FDI) policy in the space sector and allowed up to 74% FDI under the automatic route in satellite manufacturing and operation, satellite data products, and ground and user segments.
Govt likely to treat satellite broadband as telecom service, allow 100% FDI via automatic route
The Indian government is expected to treat satellite broadband as a telecom service, allowing companies like Eutelsat OneWeb, Starlink, Amazon Kuiper, and Telesat to be eligible for 100% foreign direct investment (FDI) through the automatic route. This move is expected to clarify foreign ownership rules for companies planning to launch broadband-from-space services in India and encourage top dollar inflows into the satcoms sector.
DPIIT stand may pave way for Starlink's India satcom entry
The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has provided clarification to the telecom department regarding the acceptance of undertakings given by companies on foreign shareholding. According to an official familiar with the matter, DPIIT has offered clarity on foreign shareholding in accordance with Press Note 3 of 2020. Starlink aims to enter the Indian market, competing with other players such as Bharti Group-backed Eutelsat OneWeb, Reliance Jio's satellite venture, and Amazon.
View: Telecom connections just got better
The Telecommunications Bill 2023 is seen as a positive step, particularly for satellite services, as it introduces the provision for administrative assignment of spectrum, aligning with global practices. The shift away from spectrum auctions for satellite services is observed in countries like the US, Brazil, Australia, Germany, Britain, and Taiwan.
Satcom won't be a threat to terrestrial telecom services: Government official
In the immediate term, the government will allocate spectrum without auctions to satellite players only for point-to-point connections and not for direct transmission of services to retail consumers, another person aware of the matter said. In the event satellite spectrum is used to provide access services (like mobile broadband), the allocation will be via auctions, the official clarified.
TRAI papers on OTT, Satcom to be infructious, say government official
The new bill has removed OTT services and apps from the definition of telecom services and called for administrative allocation of satellite spectrum, ruling out auctions of such airwaves. “The telecom bill is the overarching law. Obviously the two (TRAI) papers will be infructuous,” the official said.
India to allot satellite internet airwaves without auction in win for Musk
The proposal was included in a new draft bill for the telecommunications sector, which seeks to replace the 138-year old Indian Telegraph Act that currently governs the sector. The bill was tabled for approval in parliament on Monday. While Starlink and its global peers like Amazon's Project Kuiper, and the British government-backed OneWeb would rejoice in the move, it is a setback to Mukesh Ambani, Asia's wealthiest, who runs Indian telecom giant Reliance Jio.
'Bharti's OneWeb should not underestimate Jio satellite'
The satellite communications market in India is at a nascent stage but the potential is substantial, particularly in rural and remote areas. As per an EY-ISpA report, India's space economy is set to rise to $13 billion by 2025, growing at a CAGR of 6%. "I think they (Starlink) should come. In the US, there is an opportunity for Starlink, let them come in, they need to figure out what their business model in India could be," said Oommen, referring to global competition.
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