OneWeb Secures India Approval for Satellite Broadband, Outpacing Starlink

Key Milestone for Satellite Internet in India

OneWeb India, a subsidiary of Eutelsat OneWeb, has become the first company to receive regulatory approval from India’s newly established space authority to launch commercial satellite broadband services. This development positions OneWeb ahead of compe*****s like SpaceX’s Starlink and Reliance’s JioSpaceFiber in the race to connect the world’s second-largest internet market.

Regulatory Green Light and Next Steps

• Received authorization from India’s nodal space agency (IN-SPACe)
• Awaits final spectrum allocation from the Indian government
• Plans to establish gateways in Gujarat and Tamil Nadu
• Aims to deliver high-speed, low-latency connectivity nationwide

Competitive Landscape in India’s Satellite Internet Market

Current Players and Progress

1. OneWeb

   • Completed low-earth orbit (LEO) constellation
   • Expected global coverage by January 2024
   • Backed by Bharti Airtel (20% stake)

2. JioSpaceFiber

   • Received telecom ministry license
   • Promising affordable pricing strategy
   • Demonstrated services recently

3. Starlink

   • Established India subsidiary in 2021
   • Yet to receive operational license

4. Amazon’s Project Kuiper

   • Exploring Indian market potential
   • Appointed local executive for rollout plans

Strategic Importance for India’s Digital Future

Bharti Enterprises Vice Chairman Akhil Gupta highlights:

• Satellite connectivity will complement terrestrial networks
• Future smartphones may feature built-in satellite capabilities
• Potential to reduce data costs per gigabyte

Sunil Bharti Mittal, Chairman of Bharti Group, stated:

“Eutelsat OneWeb is ready to deploy as soon as it receives the final spectrum authorization to launch commercial services.”

India’s Evolving Space Ecosystem

Policy Developments

The Indian Space Policy 2023 marks a significant shift:

• Encourages private sector participation
• Defines roles for key entities:
  • IN-SPACe (regulation)
  • Department of Space (policy implementation)
  • NSIL (commercialization)
  • ISRO (R&D focus)

Market Potential

• Current space budget: ~$2 billion
• Holds 2% of global space economy
• Growing opportunities in satellite applications
• Expanding digital maps market leveraging positioning tech

The Road Ahead

While the approval marks a significant milestone, the final rollout depends on:

• Spectrum allocation decisions
• Government’s approach (auctions vs. administrative allotment)
• Competitive pricing strategies

As India’s space sector transforms, this development signals the beginning of a new era in satellite connectivity, with potential to bridge digital divides across the subcontinent.

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