TRAI recommends spectrum fee for satcom operators

Telecom regulator TRAI on Friday released its recommendations on pricing of spectrum to be given for satellite-based internet services, suggesting a levy of 4 per cent of annual revenues as fee on operators like Elon Musk’s Starlink. Operators offering services in urban areas would have to shell out an additional `500 per subscribers annually, TRAI said in its recommendations to the Department of Telecommunications (DoT). No additional levy would be applicable for services in rural areas.