In a significant shift in the telecommunications landscape, Starlink and Amazon's satellite communication services are poised to compete directly with traditional terrestrial network providers in India. This development emerged during a recent open house discussion hosted by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), where major players, including Reliance Jio Infocomm, expressed their views on spectrum allocation.
Reliance Jio highlighted that satellite communications (satcom) have evolved from targeting only remote areas to catering to underserved markets, indicating a broader service availability across urban and rural regions. This claim reflects a growing trend where satcom providers like Starlink and Amazon's Project Kuiper are no longer limited to providing services to unserved regions but are now aiming for a comprehensive market reach.
During the discussions, Starlink's Director, Parnil Urdhwareshe, countered assertions made by Reliance, emphasizing that the efficiency of technology in sharing spectrum is crucial, rather than merely the underserved status of potential users. The ongoing debate underscores the competitive dynamics between legacy telecom operators and the emerging satcom services.
Reliance also raised concerns regarding the number of Starlink satellites operating over Indian territory, suggesting that the current capacity is insufficient. However, they acknowledged that once Starlink launches its services in India, the satellite positioning could be optimized to enhance coverage significantly.
This evolving competition between satellite and traditional telecom services marks a pivotal moment in India's connectivity landscape, potentially transforming how users access internet services across the country.