As per industry sources, Bharti group-backed Oneweb has received a licence from the government to provide satellite services in the country. To this end, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has reportedly issued Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite (GMPCS) licence to OneWeb.
Oneweb has plans to provide connectivity in the country through OneWeb satellite from mid-2022. Having obtained the licence, OneWeb will now be able to provide satellite communication services in India and will help Bharti group to have an edge in connecting its mobile towers through satellite services.
Commenting on the development, Lt. Gen. AK Bhatt (Retd.), director general, Indian Space Association, said, “It’s a defining moment with DoT signing India’s first license agreement for satellite broadband services with OneWeb. This is a new beginning towards the next age of broadband revolution via LEO satellites constellations in the country. Broadband through Leo Satellite has the immense capability to change the connectivity dynamics in the country as it can solve the connectivity challenges in remotest regions where it’s still an issue. This move will inspire and act as a stepping stone for other private players as well to steadfastly work towards new-age satellite communication technologies in the near future. Today, India is at the cusp of an emerging evolution and LEO satellite-based broadband has the potential in playing a key role in bringing high-speed, low latency services to users.”
Recently, OneWeb and New Space India Limited (NSIL), the commercial arm of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), entered into an agreement that will help ensure OneWeb completes its satellite launch programme. The first launch with NSIL is expected in 2022 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR, Sriharikota.
