Satellite Internet in India: The Future of Connectivity

India's space advancements are directly contributing to making life easier for its citizens, especially by addressing the digital divide. With 1,002.85 million internet subscribers as of April–June 2025, India has made substantial progress in digital connectivity. However, there remains a significant gap in internet access, especially in rural and remote regions. Satellite internet is emerging as a key solution to bridge this gap, providing connectivity to areas where terrestrial networks are either economically unviable or difficult to reach.

Key Features of Satellite Internet:

• Global Reach: Satellite internet can provide internet access anywhere, especially to hard-to-reach areas like remote villages, hilly terrains, islands, and border regions.
   
• Next-Generation Connectivity: India is transitioning from traditional Geostationary (GEO) satellites to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) satellite systems, which offer faster, low-latency, and more reliable broadband services.
   
• Increased Private Sector Participation: Following space sector reforms in 2020, private sector players like Starlink, Jio Satellite Communications, and OneWeb have been licensed to provide satellite internet services, opening the door for innovation and competition.

India’s Regulatory Landscape for Satellite Internet:

1. Department of Telecommunications (DoT): Regulates satellite communications under the Unified License Regime, enabling satellite services such as VSAT and GMPCS to extend connectivity to unserved areas.
    
2. Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI): In May 2025, TRAI released recommendations to balance satellite spectrum utilization efficiently, allowing for flexible periods and efficient market conditions.
    
3. Indian National Space Promotion & Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe): Facilitates private sector participation, ensuring smooth interaction between the private sector and ISRO to drive satellite internet.
    
4. New Space India Ltd. (NSIL): As the commercial arm of ISRO, NSIL operates satellites like GSAT-24 and GSAT-20 for DTH and broadband connectivity.

Shifting to LEO and MEO Satellites:

India is transitioning from GEO satellites to LEO and MEO satellites due to their lower latency, higher bandwidth, and faster communication capabilities. These systems are ideal for providing internet services across remote and underserved regions.

• LEO Satellites: Positioned 400-2,000 km above Earth, they provide fast, low-latency communication, ideal for internet services.
   
• MEO Satellites: Positioned 8,000-20,000 km above Earth, they offer broader coverage and are suited for larger regions, though with slightly higher latency than LEO.

Key Satellite Communication Services:

India’s satellite internet landscape is evolving, with more private sector players joining the space:

• Starlink received approval in June 2025 to operate satellite internet services.
   
• Jio Satellite Communication and OneWeb are also part of the growing satellite internet market in India.

Government Initiatives:

• Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN): Supports the expansion of broadband services to rural areas.
   
• Comprehensive Telecom Development Plan (CTDP): Enhances connectivity in remote islands like the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep, as well as the North-Eastern region.
   
• National Broadband Mission 2.0 (NBM 2.0): Aims to provide broadband access to 1.7 lakh villages across the country, with a focus on satellite-based solutions under BharatNet.

India’s Operational Satellites and Impact:

India’s operational communication satellites, including GSAT-19, GSAT-29, GSAT-11, and GSAT-N2, play a crucial role in expanding broadband services in underserved regions. They use advanced spot-beam technology, boosting satellite broadband infrastructure and complementing ground-based networks like BharatNet.

Conclusion:

In alignment with the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, satellite internet is a key enabler of digital connectivity in India, providing access to remote and underserved regions while strengthening critical sectors like defence and disaster management. By embracing LEO/MEO satellite systems, promoting private-sector participation, and ensuring strong government initiatives, India is well-positioned to bridge its digital divide and emerge as a leader in space-based communications.