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Ambani's Reliance lobbies India minister on satellite spectrum in new face-off with Musk

Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani's Reliance has privately argued that the telecom regulator incorrectly concluded that home satellite broadband spectrum needs to be allocated by New Delhi and not auctioned, magnifying a faceoff with Elon Musk's Starlink.

How spectrum for satellite services in India will be provided out has actually been a contentious issue given that in 2015.

Musk's Starlink and its worldwide peers like Amazon's Job Kuiper back an administrative allocation, while Ambani - Asia's. most affluent male who runs India's Dependence Jio - is arguing for an. auction process.

The present conflict is over interpretation of Indian law. that some in the industry say paved the way for the allotment. of spectrum last year as Musk wanted.

But Reliance is arguing no arrangements remain in place for. satellite broadband services for specific or home users,. market sources stated on Sunday.

The telecom regulator, TRAI, is presently holding a public. consultation however Reliance in a private Oct. 10 letter asked for. the procedure to be started afresh as the watchdog has. pre-emptively translated that allowance is the way forward,. not auction.

TRAI appears to have actually concluded, without any basis, that. spectrum project should be administrative, Reliance's senior. regulative affairs official Kapoor Singh Guliani wrote in the. letter to India's telecoms minister, Jyotiraditya Scindia.

TRAI has in its consultation paper showed Indian laws. required allotment of spectrum for such services without. performing any studies, Reliance included its letter, which is. not public.

Reliance and the telecoms ministry did not instantly. react to requests for comment.

A senior TRAI authorities stated on Sunday that due process is. being followed and Dependence is welcome to share feedback throughout. the consultation period.

The suggestions of the guard dog will form the essential basis. for the federal government's decision on the matter.

Deloitte states India's satellite broadband service market. will grow 36% a year to reach $1.9 billion by 2030.

Tesla employer Musk is eager to introduce Starlink in. India, though a final decision on spectrum allotment stays a. sticking point.

Starlink argues administrative allotment of licences is in. line with a worldwide pattern. Dependence says an auction is required for. a level-playing field as foreign players might use voice and. information services and compete with conventional gamers, Reuters has. reported.

Reliance's Jio is India's No. 1 telecoms gamer with 480. million users.

(source: Reuters)