The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has recommended creating a new category of permission — a Satellite Communication Network (SCN) Provider Authorisation under Section 3(1)(b) of the Telecommunications Act, 2023 — for companies that establish, operate, maintain or expand satellite communication networks in India. The recommendations were released on November 5, 2026 and sent to the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), which will decide whether to adopt them.

Source: TRAI recommendations via PIB release

Under the proposal, an authorised SCN provider would supply 'Satellite Communication Network as a Service' (SCNaaS) — network capacity — to eligible telecom operators and other authorised service providers, but would not itself provide telecommunication services directly to users. The authorisation would cover the whole country for a maximum of 20 years and could be renewed for a further period of up to 20 years.

The networks could be used for Fixed Satellite Services (FSS), Mobile Satellite Services (MSS) and direct-to-device (D2D) connectivity — including phones connecting directly to satellites using L-band and S-band spectrum and using mobile (IMT) spectrum held by partner operators. TRAI recommended permitting such D2D services without waiting for the outcome of the World Radiocommunication Conference in 2027, on condition that they cause no harmful interference to existing services and claim no protection from interference.

Source: People Matters

On money, TRAI proposed an authorisation fee of 8 per cent of adjusted gross revenue (AGR) with no minimum fee, spectrum charges linked to AGR with an urban-rural differential for non-geostationary FSS, and an annual minimum spectrum charge of Rs 3,500 per MHz for government-assigned FSS and MSS spectrum. Spectrum would be assigned for up to five years, extendable by up to two years. The proposed entry fee is Rs 37.5 lakh, with an initial guarantee of Rs 45 lakh and minimum equity and net worth of Rs 60 lakh each.

Source: Digit

The process began when the DoT asked TRAI on July 3, 2025 to frame the terms of the new authorisation, including spectrum for feeder links and user links. TRAI issued a consultation paper on April 8, 2026, received comments and counter-comments from stakeholders and held an open house discussion on July 2, 2026 before finalising the recommendations.

What happens next rests with the government: the DoT and the Central Government must consider the recommendations before any final framework is notified. The recommendations by themselves do not launch any commercial satellite-to-phone service, and no consumer price or launch date has been announced.