Satellite Communication Networks Set to Revolutionize India's Rural Connectivity

New Delhi, [Date] - Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia has announced that non-terrestrial networks (NTNs) or satellite communication networks will unlock new opportunities for connecting the unconnected regions and extending coverage to most remote corners of the country.

At a meeting of the South Asian Telecommunication Regulators' Council, hosted by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai), Scindia stated that the evolution of NTN technologies will facilitate innovative applications across diverse sectors and advance India's journey towards achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).

To support this growth, the government has decided to allocate spectrum to satellite communication companies without auction, a move expected to benefit companies like Elon Musk-owned Starlink. Currently, Bharti Group-backed Eutelsat OneWeb and Jio have received approvals to launch satcom services in the country.

However, concerns from telecom operators, such as Jio and Bharti Airtel, over fair competition between satellite and terrestrial networks were addressed by Scindia, who assured that allocation will be done through administrative methodology as per the Telecom Act 2023.

The Minister also highlighted India's growing data consumption and plans to increase its data centre capacity to 2.3 gigawatts from about 977 megawatt at present. With an aggregate wireless data usage of close to 39% of the world's data capacity, India is on track to become a leader in rural connectivity.

In addition, Scindia announced that 99% of districts in India have been covered by 5G and aimed to provide 4G connectivity in 36,000 unconnected villages by June 2025. The government has also set a goal to take leadership in the development of 6G technology and secure at least 10% of patents for this technology through the Bharat 6G Alliance network.

As satellite communication networks expand across India, citizens living in rural areas are expected to benefit from increased internet accessibility and connectivity, bridging the digital divide in our country.