DECEMBER 20248STARLINK TO OPERATE UNDER LICENSING MODEL, NOT SPECTRUM AUCTIONENERGY SECTOR DIGITIZATION AND RENEWABLES EVOKE DEMAND FOR ENERGY METERSElon Musk's Starlink, the satellite internet provider, is working to comply with regulatory requirements in India and will be granted a license once it meets these conditions, Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia announced. Scindia highlighted the importance of compliance, including from a security perspective, and assured that Starlink is actively addressing the requirements needed to operate in India. The licensing process for satellite-based internet has sparked debate, as Starlink, Amazon's Project Kuiper, and The energy meters market has shown strong growth in recent years, with the market size reaching $18.11 billion in 2023 and expected to grow to $19.71 billion in 2024, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.9%. This growth has been driven by several factors, including the expansion of electric vehicles, the rise of renewable energy sources, the increasing need for monitoring energy consumption, the digitalization of the energy sector, and the increasing demand for electricity.Looking ahead, the energy meters market is projected to grow further, reaching $27.82 billion by 2028, with a CAGR of 9%. This growth can be attributed to growing consumer awareness of energy conservation, increasing Indian telecom companies like Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone Idea compete in the broadband space.A key issue centers on how satellite spectrum should be allocated and priced. Indian telecom companies advocate for auctioned satellite spectrum for urban broadband services, which they argue would ensure a fair market, especially as global players like Starlink and Amazon expand in cities.However, global satellite operators, including Starlink, contend that auctioning isn't ideal since satellite spectrum is typically shared rather than exclusively held. They argue that administrative allocation would better support equitable access to satellite-based services. Starlink has even cited that if 5G spectrum can be shared among telcos, satellite spectrum should also be administratively allocated rather than auctioned.The issue was further heated last week during discussions between Starlink, Project Kuiper, and Indian telecoms. The telecom companies argued for auction-based allocation, pointing out that without auctions, global satellite companies could disrupt the market. Starlink, however, pushed back, stating that shared spectrum practices would create a level playing field without undermining local operators. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) continues to consider input from both sides as it navigates this complex regulatory issue. industrialization, rising energy costs, rapid urbanization, and growing environmental concerns. Key trends driving the market in the forecast period include technological advancements, the rise of smart grid technology, the adoption of smart meters, the growth of the internet of things (IoT), and the increasing use of data analytics.A major driver of this market growth is the rising demand for renewable energy sources. Renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind, hydroelectric, geothermal, and biomass, are increasingly sought after due to concerns about climate change, the push for energy independence, and the decreasing costs of renewable technologies. Energy meters play a critical role in renewable energy systems by providing real-time data on energy production and usage, which helps users optimize their energy consumption and better integrate renewable technologies into their systems. According to GreenMatch, in 2022, renewable energy accounted for 13.1% of the total primary energy consumption in the U.S. and about 21.5% of electricity generation from utility-scale sources. By 2023, wind and solar energy are expected to contribute 16% to total electricity generation, up from 14% in 2022. This rising demand for renewable energy sources is expected to significantly drive the energy meters market forward. TOP STORIES
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