Expanding Satellite Internet Services Across India
Agreement Brings OneWeb's LEO Connectivity to Land, Maritime and Aviation Sectors
A new partnership will bring high-speed satellite internet services to India's remote regions, territorial waters and aviation sector through an agreement signed Sunday between European satellite operator Eutelsat Group and Tata Group subsidiary Nelco Limited.
"This partnership marks a significant step in enabling reliable, secure, and high-speed communication solutions based on LEO services for critical sectors across land, sea, and air."
P.J. Nath, Nelco Limited
The partnership connects Eutelsat's OneWeb constellation with one of India's leading satellite communication providers to serve government and enterprise customers. Nelco Ltd, a part of the $106 bn Tata Group, is a leading Satellite Communication (SatCom or VSAT) Service Provider in India, providing highly reliable data connectivity solutions for businesses and government agencies.
Under the agreement, OneWeb India Communications will work with Nelco to provide secure, low-latency satellite internet for customers on land, at sea and in the air. The service will cover India's borders, territorial waters and remote regions where traditional internet infrastructure is limited.
Eutelsat OneWeb's satellite communications network features more than 630 satellites along 12 carefully synchronized orbital planes 746 miles above, in low Earth orbit, according to the company. The constellation provides high-speed broadband internet to rural and isolated areas.
Neha Idnani, regional vice president for Asia-Pacific at Eutelsat and director of OneWeb Communications India, said the company is proud to partner with Nelco to deliver advanced satellite connectivity services in India. "This agreement strengthens our strategic footprint in one of the world's most dynamic and fast-growing connectivity markets and underscores our commitment to supporting India's digital and security ambitions," Idnani said.
P.J. Nath, managing director and chief executive of Nelco, said the partnership reflects the company's strategy to provide comprehensive multi-orbit satellite connectivity services. "We are pleased to partner with Eutelsat to bring OneWeb LEO satellite connectivity services to India," Nath said. "It reflects our strategy to provide comprehensive multi-orbit satellite connectivity services for advancing India's digital ecosystem and supporting the country's strategic communication needs."
The companies said the services will become available once OneWeb's satellite operations receive commercial approval in India. Nelco holds the VSAT License, Internet Service Provider (ISP) Licence as well as the Inflight and Maritime Communication licenses needed to operate such services.
Low Earth orbit satellites operate at altitudes between 99 and 1,243 miles above Earth, providing faster internet speeds and lower latency than traditional geostationary satellites that orbit at 22,236 miles.
The agreement expands Eutelsat's presence in the Indian market as global satellite internet providers compete to serve the country's growing connectivity needs. Similar partnerships have been announced recently, including deals with other maritime communication providers in the region.