Spectrum policy delays keep Starlink, OneWeb and Jio waiting to launch services
India’s satellite communications push is entering a decisive phase. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is reviewing the satcom application of Amazon Leo (formerly Kuiper), even as it has rejected applications from Yotta Network Services and seen withdrawals from other contenders.
Only three players—Starlink, OneWeb and Jio—have secured approvals so far, and yet none have begun commercial rollouts.
Who’s In, Who’s Out
Why are approvals so uneven?
Minister of State for Communications Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani told the Rajya Sabha that several companies applied for satcom licences over the past five years. These included:
- Starlink
- Eutelsat OneWeb
- Jio Satellite Communications
- Amazon Kuiper Services India
- Yotta Network Services
- Connect4Sure Technologies
- Nelco
Of these, Starlink, OneWeb and Jio have received a unified licence for Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite (GMPCS). Yotta’s application was rejected, while Connect4Sure withdrew its bid.
Update Clarifies Nelco Exit
Was Nelco rejected—or did it step back?
In an exchange filing, Nelco clarified that it voluntarily withdrew its GMPCS licence application.
- It applied in October 2022 and exited by March 2023.
- The company stressed this was a proactive decision, not a DoT rejection, and does not impact ongoing operations.
The clarification came a day after Pemmasani’s comments suggested Nelco’s application had been turned down.
Amazon’s Application Under Review
What’s at stake for Kuiper?
The DoT is currently reviewing Amazon Leo/Kuiper’s application, keeping the US giant in contention. If approved, Kuiper would join a tightly controlled group of satcom operators competing to connect India’s hardest-to-reach regions.
For Amazon, India represents a high-growth market where terrestrial fibre struggles—especially in remote, coastal, border and mountainous areas.
Why Satcom Matters to the Government
What problem is satcom meant to solve?
Pemmasani highlighted that satellite broadband can bridge connectivity gaps where optical fibre and mobile towers are impractical. This makes satcom central to the government’s digital inclusion agenda, particularly for rural and underserved geographies.
That policy intent explains why approvals are moving—albeit cautiously.
Approvals Without Launches
Why hasn’t anyone switched on services yet?
Despite receiving licences, Starlink, OneWeb and Jio are still waiting. The bottleneck lies in spectrum allocation and pricing, which the DoT has yet to finalise.
The government had earlier signalled that satcom services could launch by January, but timelines have slipped.
TRAI’s Roadmap Still Pending
What does the regulator recommend?
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India recommended last May that:
- Satcom spectrum be assigned administratively for five years, extendable by two more.
- Pricing be set at 4% of adjusted gross revenue (AGR), with a minimum annual charge of INR 3,500 per MHz.
Those recommendations, however, are yet to be formally adopted.
Starlink’s Expanding Footprint
Is Starlink pulling ahead?
Separately, Starlink has been asked to submit a fresh application for direct-to-device (D2D) connectivity. It already received final clearance last year from IN-SPACe to begin commercial operations.
Adding momentum, the Maharashtra government recently signed a letter of intent with Starlink to deploy satellite internet for government institutions.
TL;DR
The DoT is reviewing Amazon Kuiper’s satcom application while rejecting Yotta and seeing withdrawals from others. Starlink, OneWeb and Jio have licences but can’t launch yet due to pending spectrum pricing and allocation rules.
AI summary
- DoT reviewing Amazon Kuiper’s satcom bid
- Yotta Network rejected; Connect4Sure withdrew
- Nelco clarifies it voluntarily exited GMPCS process
- Starlink, OneWeb and Jio approved but awaiting spectrum rules
- TRAI pricing and allocation policy still not finalised
