The public sector telecom operator BSNL has launched India’s first direct-to-device satellite service. BSNL has partnered with US-based satellite communications company Viasat to offer the service in India. This marks the first time satellite connectivity is available for regular users in the country, as it was previously limited to emergency and military use.
The Department of Telecommunications, Govt. of India made this announcement in an official post on X, noting: “BSNL launches India’s 1st Satellite-to-Device service! Seamless connectivity reaches India’s remotest corners.”
Direct-to-device satellite service is a new technology that enables smartphones, IoT, and other devices to connect directly with satellites in the absence of traditional mobile network connectivity.
With this technology, BSNL aims to provide connectivity to remote areas in India. Users will be able to make emergency calls and send messages when neither network connectivity nor Wi-Fi connectivity is available.
BSNL and Viasat showcased this service back in October at IMC 2024, where they successfully sent and received messages from a geostationary L-band satellite 36,000 Km away.
While the service has been officially launched, BSNL is yet to reveal more details, including how users can access the service, whether it will be included with existing plans or require a separate pack, and other specifics.
