Security Compliance Assessment Underway for All Three Licensed Satellite Communication Providers; Government Says All Are at Broadly the Same Regulatory Stage
New Delhi: The Government has rejected claims circulating on social media questioning the fairness of India’s regulatory framework for satellite communication services and alleging that the framework is being applied in a discriminatory manner.
The Government clarified that it has established a fair and non-discriminatory authorisation framework for all telecommunication services, including satellite communication services.
As part of its commitment to facilitate satellite communication services in India, telecom licences have been granted to three Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite (GMPCS) service providers using non-geosynchronous satellite orbit (NGSO)-based satellite communication systems.
Security Compliance Mandatory for All Licensees
Under the terms and conditions of their respective licences, each of the three licensees is required to demonstrate compliance with the prescribed security conditions.
The Government said the requirement is aimed at ensuring that satellite communication services meet various security parameters necessary for the safety and protection of users and their data.
The security assessment process is currently underway for all three licensees.
Once the security assessment is completed for any licensed entity, it may proceed to the next stage of seeking assignment of spectrum for providing satellite communication services.
All Three Entities at Broadly the Same Regulatory Stage
The Government further clarified that, at present, all three entities are broadly at the same stage in the regulatory process.
It therefore stated that the suggestion that India’s satellite communication regulatory framework, or its application to the licensed entities, is unfair or discriminatory is baseless and misconceived.
The clarification comes amid social media posts questioning the regulatory treatment of satellite communication service providers in India, with the Government reiterating that the applicable framework is intended to provide a uniform and non-discriminatory regulatory pathway, while ensuring compliance with essential security requirements.