Indian Space Regulator Approves Eutelsat OneWeb Satellite Services
Government Must Still Allocate Spectrum for the Service
OneWeb India has received the necessary authorizations from IN-SPACe to launch Eutelsat OneWeb’s commercial satellite broadband services in India. OneWeb India is the first organization to be granted this authorization. Eutelsat OneWeb, the low earth orbit operator, is part of Eutelsat Group.
"This will be a critical step forward to meet India’s ambition of providing internet connectivity for all.”
Sunil Bharti Mittal, Eutelsat Group
IN-SPACe is the agency of the Government of India, responsible for regulating space activities and granting authorization for conducting the space activities in the country. The move means Eutelsat OneWeb can launch commercial connectivity services as soon as spectrum allocation has been granted by the Government.
"This will be a critical step forward to meet India’s ambition of providing internet connectivity for all and will enable the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision of Digital India," said Bharti Group Chairman and Vice-President (Co-Chair) of the Board of Directors of Eutelsat Group, Sunil Bharti Mittal. "Eutelsat OneWeb is ready to deploy as soon as it receives the final spectrum authorization to launch commercial services.”
"Bridging the connectivity gap around the world requires collaboration across business but also with governments and regulators," said Cyril Dujardin, Co-General Manager of Connectivity at Eutelsat Group. "These approvals from the space regulator (will) bring the country a significant step closer to providing high speed connectivity to even the most remote locations. Having completed our LEO constellation last year, we are perfectly placed to deliver this vital connectivity service to businesses across India.”
This news adds to Eutelsat OneWeb’s existing strong position in the Indian market, where OneWeb India already holds the necessary licenses from the Department of Telecommunications to provide broadband services using satellite connectivity. The business has also obtained in principle approval to establish and operate two gateways in Gujarat and Tamil Nadu, which would secure the provision of vital high-speed, low-latency internet connectivity to customers across India, once services are rolled out.
The Eutelsat OneWeb Group is currently awaiting FDI approval to finalize its investment into OneWeb India.