India's Satellite Broadband Spectrum War: Mukesh Ambani Takes On Elon Musk, Questions TRAI's Decision

New Delhi: As the fight over satellite broadband spectrum rages in India, Reliance Industries (RIL) Chairman Mukesh Ambani has argued that the telecom regulators have wrongly concluded that it is apt to go for the allocation instead of an auction. The billionaire has written to the Telecom Ministry asking for the process to be started afresh as the watchdog has "pre-emptively interpreted" that allocation is the way forward, news agency Reuters reported. With Reliance raising the issue, the war has intensified with Elon Musk's Starlink which is backing an administrative allocation of satellite spectrum in India. Notably, the method of satellite spectrum allocation has been a contentious issue in India since last year. According to Deloitte, the market is expected to grow 36% annually to reach $1.9 billion by 2030.The ongoing dispute centers on differing interpretations of Indian law, which some industry insiders believe facilitated last year's spectrum allocation in alignment with Musk's interests. However, Reliance contends that there are no existing provisions for satellite broadband services aimed at individual or home users, according to industry sources on Sunday.Meanwhile, the Telecom regulator is holding a public consultation on the issue. But Reliance s senior regulatory affairs official Kapoor Singh Guliani has already requested to start the process afresh."TRAI seems to have concluded, without any basis, that spectrum assignment should be administrative," he wrote in the letter. "We have requested (the) TRAI to amend the consultation paper" to ensure a level playing field, Reliance Jio said in a statement to Reuters on Sunday, adding that "it is imperative upon TRAI to also consult on the methodology of assignment" of spectrum.A senior TRAI official on Sunday told Reuters that due process is being followed and invited Reliance to provide feedback during the consultation period. The recommendations from the regulatory body will guide the government's decision on the issue.Musk is eager to launch Starlink in India, but the final decision on spectrum allocation remains a critical hurdle. Starlink argues that the administrative licensing aligns with global trends, while Reliance contends that an auction is necessary to ensure a level playing field, as foreign players could offer voice and data services, competing with traditional operators, according to Reuters.Reliance's Jio is the leading telecom provider in India, boasting 480 million users.(With inputs from Reuters)