Satellite Broadband: Bharti Group chairman Sunil Mittal says auction not needed for satcom spectrum

Bharti Group chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal has thrown his weight behind technology majors like Google and Amazon saying satellite broadband spectrum should not be allocated through auctions but given administratively.

In an interaction with FE, Mittal said such spectrum has not been auctioned anywhere in the world as it is required only at select places unlike terrestrial airwaves which are needed everywhere. This is the first time Bharti has taken a categorical position on the mode of allocation of satellite broadband spectrum. Although Jio and Vodafone Idea have batted for auction of this spectrum, in their response to a consultation paper floated by Trai, Bharti had maintained silence on the subject.