In a significant move for India's space and internet sectors, Orbit Connect India, a joint venture between Reliance Industries' Jio Platforms and Luxembourg-based SES, has received approval from the Indian space regulator to operate satellites in the country. The venture aims to provide gigabit fibre internet and has secured three crucial authorizations to offer satellite-based high-speed internet access.
The approvals were granted in April and June by the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe). However, Orbit Connect India will require additional approvals from the Department of Telecommunications before commencing operations.
This development positions Orbit Connect India amidst fierce competition from global giants such as Amazon and Elon Musk's Starlink, both of whom are seeking permissions to launch their satellite communication services in India.
IN-SPACe chairman Pawan Goenka also announced that Inmarsat, another key player in the satellite internet domain, has received approval to operate satellites over India. Additionally, applications from Starlink and Amazon?s Kuiper are under consideration.
Eutelsat?s Bharti Enterprises-backed OneWeb received its necessary approvals late last year, marking a milestone in the space-based internet sector.
Globally, the race to provide high-speed internet, especially to rural areas via satellite, is heating up. Amazon has announced a $10 billion investment in Kuiper, following SpaceX's deployment of operational Starlink satellites starting in 2019. Recently, Sri Lanka granted preliminary approval to Starlink for internet services, highlighting the rapid expansion of satellite internet initiatives.
Goenka emphasized that increased competition in the Indian market would be advantageous for consumers. "The relatively low pricing of communication services in India will motivate global players to innovate and reduce their prices," he noted. Drawing parallels with the automotive industry, he added, "This is already evident in many industries such as automotive, where multinational OEMs had to innovate to meet the high performance and low-cost expectations of Indian consumers."
Further, IN-SPACe is set to authorize private companies to operate ground stations, which would allow satellite operators to download data as they pass over India. This move is expected to enhance the infrastructure necessary for efficient satellite communication services in the country.
As Orbit Connect India prepares to launch its services, the landscape of internet connectivity in India is poised for significant transformation, bringing faster and more reliable internet access to even the most remote areas.
