Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has received a license from the Department of Telecommunications for the provision of inflight and maritime connectivity (IFMC). Following this, Indian airlines will now be able to deploy in-flight connectivity powered by BSNL within India as well as globally.
Further, BSNL, which is a strategic partner of Inmarsat, will now be able to deliver Inmarsat’s Global Xpress (GX) mobile broadband services in India.
As part of BSNL’s IFMC license, GX will be available to Indian customers across government, aviation, and maritime.
In response to the announcement, India’s airlines will be able to deploy GX for in-flight connectivity in India and throughout the world, while India’s commercial maritime companies will be able to enhance significantly the digitalisation of their vessels for more efficient ship operations and crew welfare services.
With BSNL’s license, the GX service will also be available to the government and other users. The implementation of new services will be phased out for customers and partners, the company said.
GX operates in the Ka-band and is the first and only high-speed broadband network designed for mobility and government customers to seamlessly span the world. The GX service delivers high bandwidth, reliability and security that commercial and government-grade mobility customers require. The GX gateway for India is located in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh.
