SIA-India Submits Consultation Paper to TRAI; Asks for Level Playing Field for Satcom Players

On Monday, SIA-India submitted its supplementary consultation paper to TRAI. Titled 'Road to Promote Broadband Connectivity and Enhanced Broadband Speed,' the association wrote that there should be a level playing field for satcom industry on policies pertaining to satellite broadband.

SIA-India Submits Paper for Satcom

In the submission, SIA-India said:

1. Regulators must include Satellite broadband into this ongoing debate for broadband for all and all future consultations as well.
2. Provision for creative incentives for VSAT and satellite broadband service providers as well.
3. The approach for incentivizing the proliferation of fixed-line broadband networks should also include the satellite broadband sector. This will also ensure a level playing field between different technologies.
4. Any form of Liberalizing or streamlining the licensing framework must include the satellite broadband sector with a `single access window.’
5. Government should prioritize delivering broadband through satellite in Bharat Net.
6. Satcom should also get all forms of Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to subscribers of fixed-line broadband services.
7. Benefits must maintain a level playing field and should not discourage any broadband service providers.
8. Satcom providers should also get the same exemption period as fixed line providers.

Anil Prakash, DG, SIA-India, said, "the existing regulations require a major overhaul with some fundamental changes in framing the right policy. The policy needs to allow a greater number of private operators, both domestic and foreign into the satellite broadband arena, which is at a nascent stage".

He added, "with a light touch regulatory framework, easy market access, landing rights, and ease of doing business, the sector could increase taking broadband to all at affordable rates bringing billions of FDI in and raising employability. The overall benefits would be passed on to the end-user and the national economy as a whole.”