The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has made testing and certification of satellite equipment, including gateways and user terminals, mandatory as India gears up to launch satellite communication services. Starting from the end of August 2025, only certified equipment will be allowed for use or import, marking the first time such a mandate has been enforced in India’s satcom sector.
On February 25, the DoT issued standards and conformity assessment requirements for 14 types of telecom equipment, including non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) satellite equipment such as integrated gateways and user terminals. The new regulation will come into effect 180 days from the notification date.
Satcom Players Await Spectrum Allocation
Major players like Eutelsat-OneWeb and the Jio-SES joint venture are eager to roll out services and are awaiting spectrum allocation, having already secured necessary regulatory approvals. Elon Musk’s Starlink is also close to receiving approval after submitting the required documents to the government and space regulator.
Once the mandate takes effect, the DoT notification states “No person shall import, sell, distribute, or use the telecommunication equipment specified in the schedule, except in accordance with the mandatory testing and certification measures specified by the Telecommunication Engineering Centre.”
Ensuring Compliance and Network Integrity
The Mandatory Testing and Certification of Telecommunication Equipment (MTCTE) scheme was introduced in 2019 to ensure that telecom equipment does not degrade network performance, protects users, and complies with both national and international regulatory standards. The scheme has been rolled out in multiple phases, with Phase 5 now including satellite communication equipment.
The Battle Over Satcom Spectrum
India’s satcom industry is set for rapid growth, with players like Eutelsat-OneWeb, Starlink, Jio-SES, and Amazon Kuiper vying for market dominance. However, a major dispute is brewing over spectrum allocation.
- Starlink and Amazon Kuiper advocate for direct allocation without auctions.
- Telecom operators (Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone Idea) insist that airwaves should be allocated to the highest bidder.
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is expected to announce pricing details for satcom spectrum soon. The stakes are high, as India’s space economy is projected to reach $44 billion by 2033, increasing its global market share from 2% to 8%, according to IN-SPACE.
Currently, Eutelsat-OneWeb and Jio-SES have secured GMPCS licenses along with approvals from IN-SPACE, while Starlink and Amazon Kuiper are still awaiting both.
