Draft Telecommunications (Spectrum Assignment by Administrative Process) Rules, 2026: Administrative Assignment with Fixed Annual Fees

Key facts

• The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) notified the draft Telecommunications (Spectrum Assignment by Administrative Process) Rules, 2026, on June 17 to regulate satellite communication services.
• Satellite companies will be assigned radiowaves through an administrative process against a fixed annual fee ranging from ₹30,000 to ₹50 lakh per terminal and a non-refundable application fee of ₹1,000.
• The draft rules mandate that companies obtain security clearance even after the assignment of spectrum to roll out their services for end consumers.
• The rules bar satcom companies from connecting their networks with public networks, including public switched telephone networks and internet, without explicit permission from the Centre.
• The draft rules propose a 1 per cent revenue charge for satellite phone services while requiring companies to pay auction-linked market prices for radiowaves.