Intro:
Just when things seemed calm, the rivalry is back. Mukesh Ambani’s Jio and Sunil Mittal’s Airtel are once again facing off with Elon Musk’s Starlink—this time over how India’s telecom spectrum should be shared between satellite players and traditional telecom giants. And trust us, it’s getting heated.
India’s Telecom Titans vs Elon Musk’s Space Ambitions
Jio and Airtel, two of India’s biggest telcos, aren’t thrilled with the latest suggestions from TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India). According to them, the rules favor satellite companies like Musk’s Starlink while putting local players at a disadvantage.
TRAI’s recommendation? Let satcom companies access spectrum without going through expensive auctions, unlike Jio and Airtel who’ve spent billions buying theirs. Sounds unfair, right? That’s exactly what the telcos are saying.
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TRAI’s Proposal Under Fire
The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), which represents major telecom players, slammed TRAI’s suggestions as “non-transparent” and “non-justifiable.” They believe the recommendations are based on faulty assumptions—like the idea that satellite internet will only be used in rural or remote areas.
But COAI says that’s not the case anymore. Satellite internet providers like Starlink are expanding fast and eyeing urban markets too—directly competing with traditional broadband.
COAI: “This Is a Regulatory Loophole”
COAI didn’t hold back in its criticism. In a strongly worded statement, it said TRAI ignored key concerns like fair pricing, level-playing field, and capacity issues. Instead of listening to telecom companies, TRAI supposedly based its decision on outdated thinking that satellite internet won’t disrupt the mainstream broadband space.
And with the new Telecommunications Act of 2023 in place, COAI believes these recommendations might even go against the law.
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From Opponents to Partners… and Back Again?
Ironically, not too long ago, Jio and Airtel were exploring partnerships with Starlink. This came shortly after Elon Musk’s high-profile meeting with PM Modi in the US. It looked like a new chapter was beginning—where traditional telcos and satellite providers could work together.
But now, it seems those honeymoon vibes are fading fast. With Starlink getting a Letter of Intent (LOI) from the telecom ministry and inching closer to a formal license, Jio and Airtel are once again drawing battle lines.
The Bigger Fight: Spectrum Pricing
At the core of the issue is this—why should telcos pay big bucks for spectrum while satellite companies get it cheaper (or even free)? COAI wants pricing to be either equal or at least comparable if both are offering similar internet services to the same users.
After all, it’s not just about rural access anymore. It’s about market share, growth, and who gets to lead India’s digital future.
What’s Next?
The Telecom Ministry is now reviewing TRAI’s recommendations and the feedback from telecom operators. Whether they’ll make changes or stand their ground is still up in the air. One thing’s clear though—this isn’t the last we’ll hear of the Jio, Airtel vs Starlink saga.
