Airtel-backed OneWeb becomes first company to get regulatory nod satcom services

OneWeb India, backed by the Bharti Group, has become the first private satellite communication firm to receive regulatory approval from the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) for launching Eutelsat OneWeb's commercial satellite broadband services in India. The authorisation, valid for five years, is subject to spectrum assignment by the Department of Telecommunication (DoT) for both gateways and user terminal operations.

Bharti Group Chairman, Sunil Bharti Mittal, expressed satisfaction with the green light from the Indian space regulator, highlighting its significance in meeting India's ambition of providing internet connectivity for all. IN-SPACe affirmed that OneWeb India aims to offer internet services to rural and unconnected areas and territorial waters of India on a 24x7 basis.

The regulatory approval positions Eutelsat OneWeb to deploy commercial services once it receives final spectrum authorisation. The company has also obtained in-principle approval for two gateways in Gujarat and Tamil Nadu, crucial for providing high-speed, low-latency internet connectivity to customers across India.

The constellation, comprising 648 satellites, orbits Earth at 1200 km altitude and is expected to provide about 21 Gbps throughput over India. With the necessary permits in place, OneWeb now awaits spectrum allocation for transmitting signals for broadband services directly to customers in India.

In a related development, Reuters reported that Eutelsat OneWeb had secured approval from India's space regulator to launch commercial satellite broadband services in the country. The regulatory nod is seen as a significant step forward in providing high-speed connectivity to even the most remote locations.

Prime Minister Modi's government, keen on advancing India's space industry, has been promoting the development of private launches. The regulatory approval aligns with the government's Digital India vision and the broader strategy to capture a significant share of the growing global commercial space market.

Despite the regulatory progress, the landscape in India's satellite broadband sector is marked by competition and potential conflicts. Elon Musk's Starlink and Mukesh Ambani's Reliance are reportedly at odds over the distribution of satellite broadband spectrum in India.

As OneWeb India prepares to roll out its commercial satellite broadband services, industry watchers will closely monitor its market impact and the broader dynamics in India's evolving space and communication sectors.