India appears poised to see the fastest rollout of the satcom network, with its market expected to surge nearly tenfold to $20 billion by 2028, Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said yesterday.

Scindia noted regulator TRAI has given its views on norms for satcom spectrum, and that it is now for the government to vet the recommendations and push forward the policy, a PTI report from New Delhi said.

“And as I have mentioned to you we are very eager in pushing forward this policy as soon as possible, so that now they (TRAI) are done with their task, the onus is on us to take it forward,” he said while speaking at a seminar on World Telecom and Information Society Day at the TRAI headquarters.

According to a media statement put out by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), the minister further stated that satellite-based telecommunications are emerging as a significant part of India’s connectivity ecosystem, especially for reaching remote and underserved regions.

These advancements are expected to complement terrestrial networks and play a vital role in realizing the vision of universal connectivity, he added.

The Minister highlighted that the world of technology has become deeply interwoven with the world of telecommunications, where telecom serves as the digital highway powering the nation’s digital transformation.

He acknowledged the seminal role of TRAI as a guiding force and navigator in steering the telecom revolution forward.

TRAI Chairman Anil Kumar Lahoti, in his address, highlighted the critical role the regulator has played in shaping the telecom sector, especially in the pursuit of Universal and Meaningful Connectivity. He recalled TRAI’s path-breaking interventions and reforms, which have transformed the telecom landscape of the country, enabling rapid development and increase of coverage.

He elaborated how TRAI’s initiatives have consistently focused on enhancing Ease of Doing Business, improving the efficiency of telecom service delivery, and ensuring robust consumer protection mechanisms.

Meanwhile, an IANS report quoted Scindia as saying on Saturday in Guna, Madhya Pradesh that India is at the forefront of the rapidly advancing global telecom revolution under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

He asserted that in the days to come, India will play a leading role in tailoring rules for 6G technology. The minister made this assertion during an interaction with media persons in his home district in Gwalior on Saturday.

Lauding the reach of 5G in the country, he noted that the rollout of 5G in the country has been one of the fastest in the world, and will be able to reach 82 per cent of the population in 22 months.