Mukesh Ambani's Reliance urges TRAI to reassess Starlink, Kuiper impact ahead of satellite spectrum allocation: Report
New Delhi: Billionaire Mukesh Ambani's Reliance has urged India’s telecom regulator TRAI to reassess the potential impact of Elon Musk's Starlink and Amazon's Kuiper before allocating satellite spectrum, citing concerns over local players being disadvantaged, Reuters reported.
Reliance’s letter, dated November 15, represents the latest move in an ongoing dispute with Musk over how India should distribute spectrum for satellite services.
While Reliance advocates for a spectrum auction, India has leaned toward Musk’s preference for administrative allocation, aligning with global norms.
Reliance highlighted its $23 billion investment in spectrum auctions over the years to support its 15 billion gigabyte monthly data traffic.
It warned that Starlink’s satellite network could offer nearly 18 billion gigabytes of data capacity, potentially targeting the same customer base at a fraction of the cost.
Experts note that auctions, which demand higher initial investments, might deter foreign competitors, favoring Reliance.
“The authority should critically examine the capacities created by these mega ... constellations such as Starlink and Kuiper,” the letter stated, the report said.
A senior official from the telecom regulator confirmed that all feedback would be evaluated before final recommendations are made, likely by year-end.
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