The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has reportedly rejected a request from the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) to review its satcom spectrum recommendations, asserting that the consultation process was thorough and transparent.

A PTI report, citing sources, said that the recommendations regarding spectrum have been submitted to the Centre after a detailed and transparent consultation process. During the consultation, all parties were given ample opportunity to present their views.

This comes days after the TRAI’s recommendation that satellite spectrum be charged at 4% of adjusted gross revenue (AGR). The telcos deemed the TRAI’s spectrum pricing move as “unfairly low” and based on “flawed assumptions”.

A Business Standard report said that the COAI, which comprises Bharti Airtel, Reliance Jio, and Vodafone Idea (Vi) among its members, wrote to DoT Secretary Neeraj Mittal a few days back, arguing that TRAI’s recommendations fail to ensure a level-playing field between satellite operators and traditional terrestrial service providers.

Telecom companies have been arguing that the TRAI’s pricing move would give satellite operators an unfair advantage while undermining the sustainability of traditional terrestrial services.

Satellite companies disagree with telecom companies’ claims about the regulator’s differential pricing proposal for satellite spectrum, arguing it’s intended to level the playing field between satcom and terrestrial broadband providers. They see differential pricing for urban and rural areas, along with increased spectrum fees, as measures to create competitive parity.

As per ET reports, satcom companies view the regulator’s actions as a way to ensure competitive fairness between satellite and terrestrial services, potentially due to the capacity and latency advantages of satellite services.

(The story will be updated soon)

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