New Fight for Spectrum in Space

The New Scramble for Spectrum in Space

By 2030, over 50,000 satellites are expected to orbit Earth, up from approximately 9,000 today. This explosive growth, driven by megaconstellations like SpaceX’s Starlink and OneWeb, is intensifying a global race for the most valuable resource in space: spectrum and orbital slots. The congestion is so acute that the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), which oversees spectrum allocation, has been forced to rethink its regulatory norms. The stakes are high, but the risks of uncoordinated governance are higher.

India’s Framework: Spectrum Allocation Under the 2023 Act

India’s approach to spectrum allocation is governed by the Telecommunications Act, 2023. According to Section 4(4) of the Act, telecom spectrum must be auctioned, except for categories listed in the First Schedule, where assignment is done via administrative process. Satellite spectrum falls under this administrative domain, ostensibly to ensure streamlined coordination with global agencies such as the ITU.

This divergence from open auctioning may serve strategic interests, but it can also create transparency concerns. Administrative processes are immune to competitive bidding but vulnerable to bureaucratic discretion and rent-seeking behavior. How will India’s system ensure accountability, especially as satellite launches accelerate?

The demand for satellite spectrum in Ku, Ka, and L bands—used for high-speed internet, remote sensing, and GPS—is outstripping supply. India’s allocation efforts now face dual challenges: managing domestic access while securing equitable representation at the global ITU level. This raises a critical question of institutional readiness—given that regulatory coordination operates across disparate entities including the Department of Space, the Ministry of Communications, and ISRO.

Policy Realities and Grim Numbers

The ambition surrounding satellite-based connectivity is robust, yet the ground realities remain fractured. Consider three data points:

• By 2030, 27,000+ objects larger than 10 cm are projected to become orbital debris, up from 50,000 operational satellites. Collision mitigation technologies remain nascent.
• The global cost of bridging digital divides through low-earth orbit (LEO) satellites is estimated at $2.6–2.8 trillion, according to ITU analyses. This figure underscores affordability barriers, highlighting challenges for countries like India where broadband penetration remains uneven.
• A Starlink terminal costs $600 (₹49,000)—prohibitively expensive for India’s rural population, even if low-latency internet could unlock telemedicine and education solutions.

These gaps reveal tension between technological promise and implementation inequities. Despite India’s First Schedule assigning spectrum via administrative processes, the absence of a cost-regulated framework may deepen affordability issues, perceived globally as inequitable infrastructure for affluent users.

Structural Tensions: Overlapping Interests, Systemic Strain

The ITU’s first-come, first-served spectrum allocation mechanism disproportionately favors wealthier nations and firms capable of deploying—or simply filing for—megaconstellations ahead of others. This inherently disadvantages emerging space powers like India, whose infrastructure and regulatory systems are still evolving.

Add to this the question of debris mitigation. Orbital crowding not only increases collision risks but compromises the integrity of scientific astronomy and remote sensing. Starlink’s trails, for example, have notably disrupted telescopic imaging, altering how scientists observe the cosmos. Yet, the ITU primarily governs spectrum—not orbital debris mitigation. Coherence between space debris management regimes and frequency use protocols, therefore, remains a glaring blind spot in international and domestic regulatory frameworks.

India also faces inter-ministerial overlaps. While ISRO spearheads satellite programs, the administrative nuances—budgetary considerations, spectrum allocation, and national priorities—are split across the Ministry of Communications and the Department of Space. Unless explicitly clarified, these unclear jurisdictions could stymie India’s larger aspirations for a competitive role in the global satellite economy.

International Comparison: The United States Model

The United States has grabbed the early advantage in spectrum allocation. Perhaps the sharpest distinction between India and the U.S. is the latter’s reliance on private-sector leadership. Under the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), American firms like SpaceX receive spectrum licenses through transparent—but complex—auction processes. Additionally, the U.S. imposes strict orbital-deployment benchmarks for megaconstellations through legislation such as the Orbital Debris Mitigation Standard Practices. While India’s Telecommunications Act prioritizes administrative processes, the U.S. system combines competitive bidding with regulatory mandates for sustainability.

This underscores a larger argument: India’s spectrum policies must shift from regulatory exclusivity to frameworks focused on both transparency and inclusivity. The administrative-choice architecture risks keeping sustainable space innovation overly centralized—and vulnerable.

Looking Ahead: Balancing Innovation and Sustainability

The World Radiocommunication Conference 2023 reforms are a step toward addressing spectrum-inflicted inequities. Whether India can leverage them remains uncertain. Resolution 8’s new benchmarks—requiring phased deployment (10% in two years, 50% in five years)—could prevent hoarding, but global enforcement depends on cooperation, a trait often elusive in geopolitics.

Success, particularly for India, requires more than administrative assignment. It demands a comprehensive orbital-sustainability strategy, which includes:

• Active debris management: Clear funding plans for collision avoidance technologies.
• Affordability innovation: Cost-reduction frameworks integrated within public-private partnerships.
• International advocacy: Stronger institutional presence at ITU negotiations to counter structural disadvantages.

In the race to occupy the skies, decisive action today will determine whether tomorrow’s connectivity truly serves the underserved.

Exam Questions

Prelims Questions:

1. Which of the following bands is in high demand for satellite-based connectivity?
   1. L, Ku, and Ka
   2. LTE and 5G
   3. VHF and UHF
   4. Band A, B, and C
   Answer: A
2. What is the role of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in satellite operations?
   1. To enforce national spectrum legislation
   2. To coordinate global spectrum and orbital slot allocation
   3. To supervise private-sector satellite deployments
   4. To safeguard against radio-frequency interference only
   Answer: B

Mains Question:

Critically evaluate whether India’s administrative process for satellite spectrum allocation under the Telecommunications Act, 2023, is sufficient to address challenges of congestion, affordability, and equitable access.

Practice Questions for UPSC

Prelims Practice Questions

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