Overview

• The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has proposed a 4% adjusted gross revenue (AGR) levy for satellite operators, capped at ₹3,500 per MHz annually.
• An additional ₹500 annual charge per urban subscriber has been recommended, with rural users exempted to encourage connectivity in underserved areas.
• Satellite broadband spectrum would be allotted for five years, extendable by two years, under geofencing and national security compliance rules.
• Starlink has received a Letter of Intent (LoI) from the Department of Telecommunications but needs final government approval to commence operations in India.
• TRAI emphasized that satellite and terrestrial networks are complementary, not competing, and highlighted the critical role of satellite services in disaster relief and remote connectivity.