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Satellite Providers Offer Discounts to Connect India's Remote Regions
17 Nov
Summary
- Satellite internet providers may get 1% discount on 5% annual spectrum charge
- Discount applies if 5% of customers are from hard-to-reach areas like borders, hills, islands
- Telecom department seeks to incentivize serving remote areas over urban centers
As of November 17, 2025, India's satellite broadband market is experiencing a boom, and the government is taking steps to ensure that even the most remote areas of the country can access these services. According to three people familiar with the matter, satellite internet providers such as Starlink, OneWeb, Jio Satellite, and others are likely to receive a 1% discount on the 5% annual spectrum usage charge if a certain percentage of their customers are located in hard-to-connect areas.
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is currently examining the possibility of implementing this discount-based model, which would replace the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India's (Trai) previous recommendation of a ₹500 per user charge for serving urban areas. The DoT believes that the discount-led approach would be more effective in incentivizing satellite providers to focus on connecting remote regions, where traditional mobile networks have struggled to reach.
The move is part of the government's broader efforts to bridge the digital divide in India and ensure that even the most isolated communities have access to high-speed internet. Satellite technology is seen as a crucial tool in achieving this goal, as it can provide connectivity to areas that are difficult to reach through traditional infrastructure.
