New Draft Satcom Rules Require Security Approval for Service Launch

The Indian government has proposed new draft rules mandating satellite communication companies to obtain security clearances before launching consumer services, even after securing a telecom license and spectrum allocation. The draft Telecommunications (Spectrum Assignment by Administrative Process) Rules, 2026, issued by the Department of Telecom (DoT), stipulates that companies must pay a non-refundable application fee of ₹1,000 and annual charges ranging from ₹30,000 to ₹50 lakh per terminal, depending on the service type. Major operators affected include Starlink, Eutelsat OneWeb, and Jio Satcom. The rules also prohibit these companies from connecting their networks to public telecom networks without prior government approval. The DoT has invited public feedback on the proposal within 30 days. Experts believe the new framework aims to address security concerns related to satellite-based services.

Key Points: • New draft rules require security clearance for satcom companies before service launch. • Companies must pay fees ranging from ₹30,000 to ₹50 lakh per terminal for spectrum. • Public feedback on the draft rules is invited by the DoT within 30 days.