New Delhi: Tesla will not be the one agenda when Elon Musk meets PM Narendra Modi, however figuring prominently in talks will likely be Starlink, the satellite tv for pc communications enterprise of his house firm SpaceX.
Musk’s satellite tv for pc web enterprise has been making an attempt for greater than three years to get a licence in India, however has did not go govt scrutiny, even being reprimanded by the division of telecom in late 2021 for accepting buyer bookings, with out licence.
“The matter of Starlink will likely be taken up through the assembly between Musk and Modi, and the American businessman will apprise govt of the function and advantages of the satellite tv for pc firm in connecting far-flung areas and guaranteeing connectivity throughout tough terrains,” sources instructed TOI.
It’s not that govt has not been engaged on Musk’s proposal for satellite tv for pc communications — one thing the place OneWeb (the place Sunil Mittal is without doubt one of the promoters) and Reliance Jio have managed to get licences from the telecom division — however a “sequence of points” resulted in delays in approval for the American firm.
“One in every of Musk’s efforts will likely be to tell govt of the connectivity initiatives which were made doable resulting from satellite tv for pc communications. The corporate has many such examples the place satellite tv for pc communications have come in useful in tough terrains or throughout difficult conditions,” one of many sources stated.
For instance, Starlink had been utilized by Ukrainian troops for a wide range of efforts, together with battlefield communications within the conflict in opposition to Russia (although there have been stories that Russian troops have been additionally utilizing Starlink, one thing denied by Musk).
Starlink is a community of satellites in low Earth orbit, which might present web to distant areas, or areas which have had regular communications infrastructure disabled.
A number of the coverage selections enabled by govt not too long ago additionally give hope to firms, reminiscent of, Starlink to have a look at India favourably. The brand new telecom regulation, that was authorised by Parliament in December final yr, offers for allocation of spectrum to satcom gamers by administrative technique (with out auctions), assembly one their key calls for.
The transfer had come as a shot within the arm for not solely Starlink however others like Jeff Bezos’ satcom enterprise Undertaking Kuiper of Amazon. The latter can be within the technique of making use of for licence in India. “The businesses, whereas finding out the regulatory wants and necessities in India, are additionally ready for readability on spectrum allocation norms for satcom. Govt is but to supply particulars on administrative spectrum allocation, and the worth one would want to pay for it.”
DoT has given the duty of defining spectrum issues on satcom to regulator Trai, which is at present within the technique of recommending norms. Starlink’s crew has been in fixed contact with the telecom ministry, and the matter can be being regarded into by different wings of govt, reminiscent of, residence, and commerce and trade ministries.
