Bharti-Backed OneWeb Gets IN-SPACe Nod To Offer Satellite Broadband Services In India

OneWeb India, a subsidiary of Eutelsat Group, has received authorisation from the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) to launch its commercial satellite broadband services in India. 

Eutelsat OneWeb is a low earth orbit (LEO) operator and claims to be the first organisation to be granted this authorisation.

For the uninitiated, satellite broadband provides internet network connectivity through LEO or geostationary satellites, ensuring high-speed internet services even in remote areas.

Speaking on the development, Sunil Bharti Mittal, Bharti Group chairman and VP (co-chair) of the board of directors of Eutelsat Group said in a statement that Eutelsat OneWeb is ready to deploy its commercial satellite broadband services as soon as it receives the final spectrum authorisation.

“We are pleased to note the Indian space regulator’s green light to launch Eutelsat OneWeb’s commercial satellite broadband services in India. This will be a critical step forward to meet India’s ambition of providing internet connectivity for all,” said Mittal.

Eutelsat Group, formed through the combination of Eutelsat and Bharti Group-backed OneWeb in 2023, claims to be the first fully integrated Geostationary Equatorial Orbit (GEO)-LEO satellite operator with a fleet of 37 geostationary satellites and a LEO constellation comprising over 600 satellites.

“Having completed our LEO constellation last year, we are perfectly placed to deliver this vital connectivity service to businesses across India,” said Cyril Dujardin, co-general manager of connectivity at Eutelsat Group.

The approval from IN-SPACEe brings the country a significant step closer to getting high speed connectivity to even the most remote locations, he added.

It must be noted that IN-SPACe is an autonomous government organisation which aims to promote, guide, and authorise various space activities in the country.

Eutelsat OneWeb has also obtained in-principle approval to establish and operate two gateways in Gujarat and Tamil Nadu, which would secure the provision of vital high-speed, low-latency internet connectivity to users across India, once the services are rolled out.

The development comes at a time when a number of big players are keen to enter the satellite communication market in the country. Recently, Amazon launched its first two satellites in a bid to start satellite internet services. Elon Musk’s Starlink and Reliance Jio’s satellite arm are also seeking approvals for launching satellite broadband services in the country.