Today on The Daily Brief:
– India is struggling to decide how to price satellite internet spectrum, with Starlink, Jio, Airtel, and the government caught in a standoff. While global norms suggest administrative allocation, Jio is pushing for auctions, citing fairness and competition concerns. The debate highlights issues of economic efficiency, corruption fears, and India’s strategic telecom goals, delaying the rollout of satellite internet in the country.
– Unlike other countries that shift from coal to gas and then renewables, India is skipping gas almost entirely. With limited reserves, costly imports, and policy hurdles, natural gas accounts for just 5% of India’s power, leaving coal dominant and renewables scaling up. The big question: should India invest in gas as a transition fuel, or leap directly from coal to renewables with battery storage?