Mumbai: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) is expected to release a consultation paper on licensing and framework of satellite earth station gateways, said Trai chairman PD Vaghela, according to a report by PTI.

The regulator is also planning a consultation paper on developing a comprehensive, single window, online common portal, having inter-departmental linkages for transfer of application and information for parallel processing.  

Vaghela was addressing a virtual event organised by the newly formed Indian Space Association on Monday.  

Currently, only service licences are permitted to set up earth stations and Trai believes that there is a need to allow multiple stakeholders to set up earth stations which will attract investment and increase satellite capacities.

According to the report by PTI, Vaghela emphasised the need for the convergence of laws and governance to address the rapid technological convergence happening in the communications and space sector. Trai will form inter-departmental linkages between the telecom department, ministry of information and broadcasting, and department of space, to create a common online portal that will be engaged in granting approval, permission, allocation, renewal, cancellation, and revocation as well as facilitate transfer of application and information for parallel processing