DoT draft rules tighten norms for satellite service rollout

The government has proposed new satellite communication rules requiring operators to obtain security clearance in addition to a DoT licence before launching services. Spectrum will be assigned administratively, with annual fees ranging from ₹30,000 to ₹50 lakh per terminal and a ₹1,000 application fee. The draft rules will apply to satcom players such as Starlink, OneWeb and Jio Satcom.