The Telecom Commission
is an essential and core segment of Indian Department of
Telecommunications (DoT). It has been playing a major role in bringing
order to the chaotic telecom situation existing in India. The Commission
along with the DoT manages the policy formulation, licensing, wireless
spectrum management, administrative monitoring of PSUs, research and
development and standardization/validation of equipment etc.
The Telecom Commission was constituted by the Government of India
vide Notification dated 11th April, 1989 with administrative and
financial powers of the Government of India to deal with various aspects
of Telecommunications. The composition of the Commission consists of a
Chairman, four full time members, who are ex-officio Secretary to the
Government of India in the Department of Telecommunications and four
part time members who are the Secretaries to the Government of India of
the concerned Departments.
One of the areas covered by the Commission pertains to satellite based services management in India. The Satellite phones are permitted in India only with specific permission from DoT. Presently use of specific types of International Mobile Satellite Organisation (INMARSAT) terminals is only permitted as per details available under the link INMARSAT.
In a welcome move, the Telecom Commission has given the approval
for introducing satellite based mobile services in India. The approval
comes after a recommendation from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of
India (TRAI) to introduce a regulatory mechanism to govern satellite
phones. Initially, the services will be offered by Bharat Sanchar Nigam
Ltd through a partnership with INMARSAT.
INMARSAT provides its satellite services with a constellation of four
satellites which are located in the Geo-stationary earth orbit.
Currently, in India, the satellite services of INMARSAT are used by maritime users through the Tata Communications Ltd
under its international long-distance licence. Some limited numbers of
users of land mobile have also been permitted by the DoT on a
case-to-case basis.
Satellites provide telephone and broadcasting services, covering
large geographical areas. A satellite-based communication system
provides an ideal solution for connecting remote and inaccessible areas.
In addition, satellite communication is widely used for the
transmission of emergency traffic, such as distress and safety messages,
to and from vessels at sea or remote locations.
While the INMARSAT services cater to maritime communication, the
Government had envisaged satellite services, namely, Global Mobile
Personal Communication by Satellite (GMPCS) in the new telecom policy
1999. Under this licence, satellite-based communication services were
permitted. However, establishment of GMPCS Gateway in India by the
licensee was a mandatory license condition, which dampened interest from
potential investors. This required substantial financial expenditure
which was not feasible to be recovered from the limited number of users.
Now the regulatory environment for telecom sector of India has changed and there is good sense in making such expenditure. The FDI Policy in telecom sector of India 2014 (PDF) is also conducive for investment purposes. Indian government has also given approval to establish two semiconductor wafer fabrication manufacturing facilities in India (PDF). This is in conformity with the policy of India government to encourage electronic system design and manufacturing in India. The new merger and acquisition (M&A) guidelines
issued by Indian government is also seen as a pro active step by many
telecom stakeholders. These developments would encourage establishment
of GMPCS Gateway in India by the concerned licensee and widespread use
of Satellite Based Mobile Services in India.
Until now, DoT was giving permission to procure the INMARSAT handsets
and taking services from a foreign service provider was given to meet
the requirement of paramilitary forces and disaster management. However,
there are security related limitations in this arrangement. There is a
possibility of monitoring of calls outside the country as the earth
station is located outside the country. In view of the above drawbacks,
the Defence forces have not procured these handsets. They are continuing
to use the old terminals. However, as declared by the INMARSAT, some of
these old terminals will cease to be supported by their satellites from
September. Thus, the decision by the Telecom Commission to permit BSNL
to offer satellite services could help tide over the problems.
