The Indian space regulator, IN-SPACe, has granted its first satellite broadband license to Eutelsat OneWeb India. The company is now authorised to launch the first commercial satellite broadband service in India. This approval opens the door for OneWeb to deliver high-speed, low-latency internet connectivity to customers across India once spectrum allocation is granted by the government.

Why does it matter?

Eutelsat OneWeb India is part of the Eutelsat Group and operates in low-earth orbit (LEO). The potential of the satellite-based broadband market is believed to be great, since nearly half of India's population is still unconnected. Satellite-based connectivity is considered a viable alternative for quickly and affordably connecting people in remote areas that are out of reach of land networks. The company has already secured the required licenses from the Indian Department of Telecommunications to provide broadband services using satellite connectivity. Additionally, OneWeb India has obtained pre-approval to set up and run gateways in Gujarat and Tamil Nadu to serve as an interface between the satellites and the internet infrastructure. This new development aligns with India's ambition of providing internet connectivity for all, bridging the digital divide within the country, and enabling the vision of Digital India.