The SatCom industry body SIA-India said the existing licensing framework should include low bitrate satellite services, and terminal-by-terminal fees should be relaxed, especially in the case of Internet of Things (IoT) to ensure success in India.
SIA-India batted for light-touch regulation while responding to a consultation paper by Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on ''licensing framework for satellite-based connectivity for low bit-rate applications'
A PTI report quoted Anil Prakash, Director General, SIA-India, asserting that the regulatory framework needs to be flexible enough to enable satellite service providers and end-users to innovate, discover and create new satellite-based IoT and other applications that can be efficiently delivered through low-or high-capacity satellite links, as appropriate.
'Commercial VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) CUG (Closed Users Group) services authorization permits the provision of data connectivity using VSAT terminals to CUG users. It will allow more private participation and allow the provision of any satellite-based connectivity within any service area,' the association said in a statement.
The SatCom industry body also submitted that bands such as C-band, Ka-band, S-band, and Ku-band should be utilised to provide satellite-based IoT connectivity to users.
SIA-India also emphasised the permission that GEO (Geosynchronous equatorial orbit), MEO (medium earth orbit), and LEO (low-earth orbit) should be provided to get satellite-based low-bitrate connectivity.
SIA-India supported streamlining the licensing framework for all satellite-based connectivity applications, not just low-bit-rate applications, including lower fees and fee structures that would support large-scale deployments under various business models.
