OneWeb India has received the coveted green light from IN-SPACe, the Indian space regulator, to roll out Eutelsat OneWeb’s commercial satellite broadband services across India. This milestone marks the first-ever authorisation granted to an entity for such services in the country, setting the stage for an ambitious leap in satellite-based connectivity.
Eutelsat OneWeb, an integral player in the low earth orbit domain and a subsidiary of Eutelsat Group, has been granted the requisite authorisations to initiate commercial connectivity services upon the allocation of spectrum by the Indian Government. This significant approval underscores the imminent realization of India’s aspirations for universal internet accessibility and aligns with the vision of Digital India championed by the Hon’ble Prime Minister.
Sunil Bharti Mittal, Chairman of Bharti Group and Vice-President (Co-Chair) of the Board of Directors of Eutelsat Group, expressed satisfaction at the regulatory nod, stating: “The Indian space regulator’s approval to launch Eutelsat OneWeb’s commercial satellite broadband services in India is a crucial stride towards fulfilling India’s connectivity goals. This paves the way for empowering every citizen with internet access, in line with the national vision. Eutelsat OneWeb stands poised for deployment pending the final spectrum authorization.”
Cyril Dujardin, Co-General Manager of Connectivity at Eutelsat Group, emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts between businesses, governments, and regulators in bridging global connectivity gaps. Dujardin highlighted the approvals as a significant advancement toward delivering high-speed connectivity even to the remotest areas. Having completed its LEO constellation last year, Eutelsat OneWeb is primed to offer vital connectivity services to businesses across India.
This endorsement fortifies Eutelsat OneWeb’s robust standing in the Indian market, complementing OneWeb India’s existing licenses from the Department of Telecommunications for satellite-based broadband services. Additionally, the company has secured in-principle approval for establishing and operating gateways in Gujarat and Tamil Nadu, ensuring the seamless provision of high-speed, low-latency internet connectivity once the services are rolled out.
Lt. Gen. AK Bhatt (Retd.), Director General of the Indian Space Association (ISpA) has also welcomed this decision. He told News18: “With this move, OneWeb has become the first company to receive this authorization. [However] As a next logical step, we are sanguine that the government will soon take the decision on satellite spectrum allocation to pave the way for the commencement of next-generation satellite communications in India.”
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