The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has issued new guidelines for satellite internet services in India. The amendments were made to the Unified License (UL) and the Global Mobile Personal Communications by Satellite (GMPCS) authorization. The new guidelines introduce several compliance requirements for satellite operators.
One notable requirement is the introduction of geo-fencing. Indian-purchased satellite terminals must be disabled if taken outside the country. Similarly, satellite terminals bought abroad must be deactivated when used within Indian territory.
Terminals must also be manufactured in India within five years. Mahwash Fatima, a public policy manager at tech policy firm The Quantum Hub, stated, “It is noteworthy that these security conditions have been introduced as an amendment to the Unified Licence itself, rather than as a separate guideline, ensuring that they are uniformly applicable to both existing GMPCS licensees and future applicants.
These amendments are a regulatory measure to prevent cross-border signal spillover, particularly in sensitive regions. They also ensure that satellite connectivity can be monitored and intercepted within India.
However, the geo-fencing requirement poses operational challenges for roaming terminals used in the aviation and maritime sectors. Starlink, known for its global roaming service, faces a unique challenge. Indians traveling abroad will be unable to use their Indian-purchased terminals and will have to buy a second terminal for use abroad, which they are prohibited from possessing in India.
New satellite internet regulations summarized
Despite Starlink’s plans to distribute its services with Jio Platforms Ltd and Bharti Airtel Ltd, the firm faces significant regulatory hurdles. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has not published guidelines on spectrum acquisition for satellite services, and the DoT has not prioritized initiating this process.
Under the new guidelines, satellite communication companies must present a year-wise phased manufacturing plan for indigenisation. By the end of five years after starting commercial operations, they should achieve at least 20% indigenisation of the ground segment of their satellite networks. Additionally, companies must ensure the integration of NavIC-based positioning systems in their user terminals.
NavIC, India’s regional satellite navigation system, is expected to be implemented in a time-bound manner by 2029. On the data localisation front, operators must guarantee that no user traffic originating in or destined for India will be routed through any gateway outside Indian territory. They must also ensure that data centres are based within India’s geographical boundaries, providing real-time monitoring and ensuring user traffic is not mirrored to servers abroad.
Essential functionalities like lawful interception and monitoring must also be located within India. For national security, operators must implement service restrictions during hostilities and seek separate clearance for voice and data services. Special Monitoring Zones within 50 kilometers of international borders, including coastal borders, will be demarcated for monitoring by designated law enforcement and security agencies.
These agencies must receive real-time information on foreign or unregistered user terminals connecting to the network within India. The new rules aim to enhance local manufacturing capabilities, secure user data within the country, and ensure national security cooperation, positioning India as a significant player in the global satellite communications landscape.
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