CHANDIGARH: The satellite spectrum allocation to private players should not be made on an administrative basis but made so as to subserve the overall public interest to the maximum extent, said EA S Sarma Former Secretary to the Government of India.
EAS Sarma has written to the Secretary Department of Telecommunications (DOT) to be cautious in proceeding on allocation of satellite spectrum to private players, especially through non-transparent procedures and preferably earmark it exclusively for strategic uses.
Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) had circulated a consultation Paper in April 2023 on issues relating to allocation of satellite spectrum, specifically making a reference to the observations of the Supreme Court in the 2G spectrum case in 2012. As per order a duly publicised auction conducted fairly and impartially is perhaps the best method for discharging this burden. The State is duty bound to adopt the method of auction by giving wide publicity so that all eligible persons can participate in the process.
Sarma writes that he is not sure whether DOT has applied its mind to the potential role that satellite spectrum will play in providing support to our defence services and ISRO, keeping in view the enormous strides that China has made in recent times in the application of satellite spectrum usage in defence and space applications. DOT should accord the highest priority to the future needs of our defence services in order to safeguard the national interest. While there have been competing demands from different private agencies on the question of allocating satellite spectrum through auction or not.
Considering that spectrum, whether it is through satellites or otherwise, is a valuable natural resource, the allocation of which should be made so as to subserve the overall public interest to the maximum extent. If it is administratively allocated, whatever be the norms that apply, the allocation process would be non-transparent and price discovery not amenable to verification. If the price is too high, the cost burden would fall on consumers and if it is too low, private allottees would profit at the cost of consumers, as happened recently in the case of 5G services.