Rural India has witnessed an upsurge in digital adoption in recent years. According to the Economic Survey 2022-23, internet penetration in India’s rural areas grew by an impressive 200 per cent between 2015 and 2021, compared to the 158 per cent growth in urban areas during the same period. However, a significant digital connectivity gap persists in the far-flung areas of the country. The latest India Inequality Report released by Oxfam shows that approximately 70 per cent of the population has poor or no connectivity to digital services, with rural areas accounting for the majority of these cases.
Terrestrial telecommunication systems have limitations in addressing this disparity, underscoring the need for innovative interventions. As such, satellite communication has emerged as a viable solution to provide data connectivity in remote and rural locations. Satellite backhaul can be deployed quickly, without the need to build costly and technically challenging infrastructure required by other backhaul technologies, and complements mobile network connectivity. It is the only medium through which communication can be established in disaster zones when traditional telecom infrastructure gets affected.
The government has recognised the significance of satcom technology in bridging the long-standing digital divide and released a series of measures to facilitate its widespread deployment. A look at the key initiatives and progress so far…
Satellite reforms
The government has introduced reforms to improve the ease of doing business by limiting the multiplicity of charges at different stages of rolling out satellite-based communication services. These reforms aim to propel growth and accelerate the provisioning of affordable satellite-based services to citizens.
As of now, satellite usage has been mostly limited to static use. The government has enhanced the scope of the commercial very small aperture terminal (VSAT) licence to enable the provisioning of user terminal station(s) on moving platform(s). These terminals can be vehicle mounted, “fully mobile” or simply briefcase-sized portable “pause and move” types.
To simplify existing processes, vital changes have been made, streamlining satellite-related clearances. This will considerably shorten the time-consuming process of spectrum assignment and associated clearance(s). Self-certification has been introduced in order to save time in operationalising networks.
BharatNet – progress and plans
The Union Cabinet approved a modified strategy for the BharatNet project in 2017, integrating the implementation experience of Phase I of the project and aligning it with the vision of Digital India. The modified strategy provides an optimal mix of optical fibre cable (OFC), radio and satellite to connect gram panchayats (GPs). Under Phase II, GPs will be connected through multiple implementing models. Among these, the satellite component is being implemented by Bharat Broadband Network Limited (BBNL) and Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL).
As of December 6, 2023, a total of 208,621 GPs have been made service-ready under the BharatNet project. Of these, 4,903 have been connected over satellite media. Among states, Manipur leads with 1,154 service-ready GPs over satellite, followed by Arunachal Pradesh with 994 and Jammu & Kashmir with 686.
BBNL and BSNL are utilising the Indian Space Research Organisation’s high-throughput satellites, GSAT-11 and GSAT-19, under the BharatNet project to provide connectivity to about 6,700 GPs/areas that were previously inaccessible through other mediums. Broadband services from low-earth orbit/medium-earth orbit satellites are expected to be rolled out in the near future, raising the quality of broadband services in remote and mountainous regions where OFC deployment is difficult.
The government is also planning to use high speed satellite connectivity technology as well as fixed wireless access to connect rural areas, along with fibre connectivity, under the revamped BharatNet project. The current plan is to connect 10 per cent of the GPs in remote and mountainous regions. This is expected to pave the way for private players such as Reliance Jio, Starlink and OneWeb to collaborate with the government. There are possibilities that BSNL will partner with satcom players to provide satellite broadband connectivity in the country.
Issues and challenges
Satellite broadband can be more expensive than traditional broadband solutions as it requires specialised equipment, such as satellite dishes, modems, and routers, which can have high upfront and installation costs. In addition, satellite internet typically has lower data caps and higher fees for exceeding them, which can limit the amount and quality of online activities for users. It may also have higher latency, potentially affecting the performance of real-time applications such as videoconferencing and streaming.
Another issue of satcom is that it can be affected by interference from various sources. For example, clouds, rain, snow or fog can weaken or block satellite signals and cause degradation or loss of internet services. Similarly, physical obstacles such as trees, buildings and hills can obstruct the line of sight between the satellite dish and the sky, reducing the signal strength or quality. Other devices or networks that use the same frequency band as satellite broadband can also create network congestion and interfere with satellite transmission.
Furthermore, the satcom industry may encounter regulatory hurdles and uncertainties as it operates within a complex and dynamic legal and policy environment involving multiple stakeholders, such as governments, regulators, operators, service providers and users. Compliance with various rules and standards regarding licensing, spectrum allocation, interference management, data protection and consumer rights may create impediments for satcom players.
The way forward
Satcom has the potential to offer internet coverage to the nooks and corners of a vast geography that would otherwise be difficult to cover through other backhaul infrastructure. The integration of satcom into the BharatNet project represents a significant leap towards achieving digital inclusion across the rural and remote areas of India. According to a joint report by the Indian Space Association, the National Association of Software and Service Companies, and Deloitte, the market potential of using satcom for broadband connectivity in remote areas of India is estimated to be $263 million over the next five years.
While the technology holds great promise, some challenges need to be addressed to ensure its mass adoption in the country. The government and private sector must collaborate to create an enabling environment for satcom. This includes investing in research and development to improve the technology, and providing financial incentives and subsidies to increase the affordability of satellite internet services for consumers.
