Centre says no auction of satellite spectrum after Elon Musk decries move

India’s government on Tuesday said it will allot spectrum for satellite broadband administratively and not via auction, hours after Elon Musk criticized the auction route being sought by rival billionaire Mukesh Ambani as “unprecedented”.

In what is seen as a battle between billionaires, the methodology of awarding spectrum for satellite services in India – a market set to grow 36% a year to reach $1.9 billion by 2030 – has been a contentious issue since last year.