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Musk battles Reliance boss over Indian satellite communications spectrum

Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX and Tesla and owner of X looks on during the 2024 Milken World Conference Sessions at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California, U.S., May 6, 2024. REUTERS/David Swanson/ File Photo

NEW DELHI (Reuters) – American businessman Elon Musk and Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani, who heads Reliance Group, are locked in a battle over India’s satellite communications spectrum. Musk, who aims to expand SpaceX’s Starlink satellite communications business to India, argues that the government should allocate frequency bands. In response, Mr Ambani’s side petitioned the authorities, saying the decision should be made through appeals to ensure fairness, while Mr Musk objected, saying it was “un ideal.”

The reason for the conflict is the interpretation of the country’s relevant laws, which some say paves the way for the government to allocate spectrum. starlink and amazon(AMZN.O)opens a new tabForeign countries such as those in the Kuiper Belt want the government’s approval, saying it is an international practice. Reliance-owned Jio had sought a bidding process to ensure fair competition.

Reuters reported on the 13th that Reliance wrote a letter claiming that the government’s decision to allocate spectrum for home satellite broadband communications instead of bidding was a mistake. The letter states that there are no regulations regarding satellite home broadband communications, and that the telecommunications regulatory authority has given the government a decision without any basis.

Regarding this report, Musk posted on X on the 14th that it would be “unprecedented” if Reliance’s lobbying operation made an offer. “This frequency band has long been designated by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) as a shared frequency band for satellites.”

India is a member of the ITU and a signatory to the convention governing satellite communication frequency bands. He says that satellite communications spectrum is a “limited natural resource” and must be allocated “rationally, efficiently and economically.” Indian government sources told Reuters on Wednesday that regulators were holding discussions in accordance with due process.

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2024-10-15 09:38:00
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