At least half a dozen players are planning to enter the Indian satellite communications (satcom) market, in addition to Elon Musk’s Starlink and Jeff Bezos’ Project Kuiper.

This includes Munich-based Rivada Networks, California-based Viasat, Barcelona’s Sateliot, Ottawa-based Telesat and Delaware’s Globalsat.

These companies have written to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India expressing their desire to launch satcom services in India.

“As Globalstar grows its satellite communications business, it has launched a comprehensive global strategy to improve its direct presence and regulatory compliance in many countries around the world. India represents the largest market that Globalstar has not been able to enter before. It is Globalstar’s hope that this consultation will result in TRAI initiating regulatory reforms in satellite spectrum that will facilitate TRAI’s proposed entry into India,” Globalstar wrote in its submission to Trai.

The company operates a global network of 28 gateway Ground Stations located in eighteen countries; and has more than 760,000 users in more than 120 countries.

Recently, Apple Inc announced “Emergency SOS via Satellite” feature directly to the handset using Globalstar’s MSS network.

Sateliot, which provides wholesale satellite capacity to mobile and IoT operators, said it is committed to playing an active role in shaping the ecosystem by providing satellite IoT connectivity that complements India’s digital and connectivity objectives.

Most of these players charge low spectrum fees to make services affordable. “

It is proposed that spectrum charges should be based on a percentage of Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) and the cap should not exceed 1 percent of AGR or even less. “This approach promotes wider access to satellite services without placing undue financial burden on operators and encourages the growth of satellite connectivity in the regions that need it most,” he said.

The Centre’s decision to allocate spectrum for satellite communications administratively rather than through auction has encouraged these global players to look at India.

Unlike mobile services, satellite communications (satcom) networks do not need dedicated spectrum resources. All satellite players in other countries work by sharing spectrum resources.

“In a country with such diverse geographies as India, this technology makes sense, given that around 25 percent of the Indian population lives in regions where it is extremely difficult for terrestrial operators to set up a telecom network. Secondly, the entry of satcom players has meant that the telecom sector, which has hitherto become a duopoly, It will revitalize the competitive landscape,” said a market expert.

Satcom services have so far been used to provide fixed broadband service and as backhaul infrastructure for telecom operators. But technological advances have made it possible for satcom players to offer seamless broadband connectivity directly to users’ smartphones, bypassing traditional base stations altogether.

While this allows consumers to have more choices, telecom operators have expressed concerns that it could disrupt satellite operators’ business models.