OneWeb India has secured approvals from IN-SPACe, the Indian space regulatory agency, to launch commercial satellite broadband services for Eutelsat OneWeb in India. This milestone marks the first authorization of its kind granted to any organization by IN-SPACe. The approval allows Eutelsat OneWeb to commence commercial connectivity services once the government allocates the necessary spectrum. Sunil Bharti Mittal, Chairman of Bharti Group and Co-Chair of the Board of Directors of Eutelsat Group, emphasized the significance of this approval in advancing India’s goal of universal internet connectivity, aligning with the Digital India vision.
Upon securing the final spectrum authorization, Eutelsat OneWeb is poised to promptly deploy its services. Cyril Dujardin, Co-General Manager of Connectivity at Eutelsat Group, highlighted the collaborative effort required to address global connectivity gaps and underscored the positive impact of receiving approvals from the Indian space regulator. With the completion of their Low Earth Orbit (LEO) constellation last year, Eutelsat OneWeb is well-positioned to deliver high-speed connectivity, even in the most remote areas of India.
This development strengthens Eutelsat OneWeb’s presence in the Indian market. OneWeb India already holds licenses from the Department of Telecommunications to provide broadband services through satellite connectivity. Additionally, the company has received in-principle approval to establish and operate two gateways in Gujarat and Tamil Nadu, crucial for delivering high-speed, low-latency internet connectivity to customers across India once the services are launched. The collaborative efforts between the government, regulators, and businesses contribute to closing the connectivity gap and bringing essential services to people in remote areas.