The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on Friday put out a consultation paper to figure out how to make low-bitrate applications of satellite technology — routine things like GPS tracking, steering farm equipment, monitoring remote transmission towers — more accessible for interested private players. In a letter to TRAI, the Department of Telecommunications pointed out that existing licenses either had little uptake, or could be prohibitively priced if a lot of receivers are needed to be installed on the ground. Among ways of relaxing satellite license norms, the consultation paper asks if foreign satellite bandwidth may be leased for low bitrate applications. Recently, the Department of Space and ISRO came out with a space communication policy that aims to make it easier for private players to leverage the technology for uses like internet in remote areas. This potential deregulation of satellite licenses for some emerging technologies seems to fit that bill. Summary of questions Here's what the TRAI is asking in the consultation paper: Right now, satellite for IoT can be provided either as a low-power wide area network (LPWAN, which allows connectivity with satellite constellations), or in a direct-to-satellite model. Should both models be permitted for IoT connectivity, and is there any other model that can be used for this purpose? Should geostationary, medium as well as low earth orbit satellite be permitted for low bitrate satellite connectivity? Which frequency bands should be allowed for satellite communications? Some or any of L, S, C, Ku, Ka bands, or all of…
