Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia has advised global satellite communication giants, including Elon Musk's Starlink and Eutelsat OneWeb, to embrace an affordable pricing model when they launch services in India. Speaking in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, the minister pointed to the successful Indian telecom story as a blueprint for achieving massive scale through low costs.
Learning from India's Telecom Success Story
Scindia emphasized that India has demonstrated to the world how combining high volumes with low pricing leads to deep market penetration and significant revenue for companies. He cited the dramatic transformation in the mobile and broadband sectors as prime examples.
The cost of voice calling has plummeted by 97%, from 50 paise per minute in 2014 to just 0.03 paise per minute today. Similarly, the price of 1 GB of data has crashed from Rs 287 to a mere Rs 9, which is approximately 9 cents. "This is roughly about 9 cents, whereas the world average is at $2.49. So, we are at 5% of the world's cost today in India," Scindia stated.
He expressed confidence that satellite communication players would also realize the importance of economies of scale and price their services competitively to gain maximum user adoption. However, he clarified that this is a suggestion, not a government diktat.
Policy Framework and Pending Approvals
The minister confirmed that the satellite communication policy framework is ready, with spectrum to be assigned administratively. Licenses have already been issued to three entities: Starlink, Eutelsat OneWeb, and Reliance's satcom venture.
However, two critical steps remain before commercial services can begin. First, spectrum assignment and the determination of administrative charges, a process currently being finalized by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). Second, security clearances from relevant enforcement agencies.
To aid this process, operators have been given sample spectrum to conduct demonstrations. "All three licensees are currently undertaking the required compliance activities," Scindia said. Once they demonstrate adherence to security norms, including hosting international gateways within India, the final approvals will be granted.
India's Growing Telecom Self-Reliance and 5G Growth
Scindia also highlighted India's strides towards self-sufficiency in telecom technology. Telecom exports have surged by 72% over the last five years, rising from Rs 10,000 crore in 2020–21 to Rs 18,406 crore in 2024–25. Meanwhile, imports have remained stable at around Rs 51,000 crore.
"India is not only moving rapidly towards self-reliance in the telecom sector but is also preparing itself for global leadership," he asserted.
On the 5G front, the minister provided impressive statistics. Out of India's 778 districts, 767 already have 5G coverage. The country currently boasts 36 crore (360 million) 5G subscribers, a number projected to grow to 42 crore by 2026 and reach an ambitious 100 crore (1 billion) by 2030.
