Satellite Internet in India: Policy, Technology & Challenges
Gajendra Singh Godara
Oct 6, 2025
12
mins read
Satellite internet refers to broadband connectivity delivered via space-based satellites (GEO or LEO) instead of ground cables or towers. This emerging service can reach any location from the sky, making it valuable for remote villages, hilly terrains, border posts, and islands where fiber or cell towers are hard to deploy. In practical terms, think of a Himalayan hamlet getting online for the first time when a portable satellite terminal arrives, allowing students to attend virtual classes or farmers to check weather advisories.
Opening up the Space Sector: India’s space sector reforms in 2020 and the Indian Space Policy 2023 have opened the entire space value chain to private players, allowing non-government entities to participate in satellite activities and services end-to-end.
Foreign Investment and Market Entry: Up to 100% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is allowed in satellite technology segments to attract global expertise and capital. By mid-2025, major players like Starlink, Jio Satellite Communications, and OneWeb India received unified licenses to offer satellite internet services.
Regulatory Oversight: The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) governs satellite communications under the Unified License regime. The Telecom Act 2023 expanded government powers over spectrum assignment and regulation of satellite broadband within the broader telecom ecosystem.
Spectrum Management: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) recommended assigning satellite communication spectrum for an initial five-year period with possible renewal, balancing flexibility for operators with investor certainty.
Institutional Support: The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) acts as a single-window clearance authority between ISRO and private companies, facilitating approvals. New Space India Ltd. (NSIL), ISRO’s commercial arm, commercially manages and launches communication satellites to support broadband services.
Policy Goals: India’s comprehensive framework aims to accelerate the rollout of satellite internet across remote and underserved areas, boosting digital inclusion through a mix of homegrown satellites and foreign operators. This supports improving connectivity in the country’s challenging terrains like border areas, islands, and rural locations.
Rural Connectivity and Social Inclusion: Satellite internet bridges digital divides in remote areas. For example, Hughes India connected 5,000 Gram Panchayats across Northeast India and Ladakh using VSATs on GSAT satellites. Villagers accessed email, e-learning, telemedicine, and government services for the first time, helping teachers, farmers, health workers, and Panchayat hubs.
Disaster Management and Emergency Response: In disasters like the August 2025 Uttarakhand floods, where terrestrial networks collapsed, satellite communication through portable VSATs and satellite phones restored connectivity, enabling rescue coordination via video links and real-time alerts.
Defense and Strategic Use: Military installations use satellite broadband for secure communication in difficult terrains such as the Himalayas and deserts. Portable satellite kits support field operations, border posts, and naval vessels, ensuring reliable connectivity in remote areas.
Off-Grid and Individual Use: Portable satellite terminals provide internet access to journalists, trekkers, and nomads in inaccessible locations. In urban settings, satellites may serve as backup during fiber outages.
Commercial and Aviation Use: Satellite internet supports industries at remote locations like mines and oil rigs. Media firms use satellite uplinks for live broadcasts from isolated areas. Airlines deploy Ka-band satellite terminals (e.g., ISRO’s GSAT-20) to offer in-flight Wi-Fi services.
Technology and Deployment Models: Modern solutions include compact, self-aligning portable dishes like Starlink’s “pizza box,” and rugged battery-powered terminals designed by startups and NGOs. Hybrid connectivity models integrate satellite broadband with terrestrial networks such as 4G/5G and the BharatNet fiber project.
Future Vision and Policy Integration: Satellite internet facilitates telemedicine for rural health centres, remote online education, and early disaster warning systems. It supports Digital India’s mission by providing connectivity in regions where fiber and mobile towers are impractical, strengthening India’s digital infrastructure and inclusion strategies.
User Terminal Sends Data (Uplink): The process begins at the user terminal (satellite dish) on Earth, which converts internet requests (like loading a webpage) into radio signals and sends them up to a satellite orbiting the Earth.
Satellite Relays Signal: The satellite, positioned in geostationary or low Earth orbit, receives this uplink, amplifies it, and sends the data to a ground station called the Network Operations Center (NOC) connected to the internet.
Ground Station Connects to Internet: The NOC processes the data request, fetches the required information from the internet, and sends it back to the satellite.
Data Sent Back to User (Downlink): The satellite then beams the data back down to the user terminal, where the satellite modem decodes the signal and delivers the content to the user’s device.
Types of Orbits Used: Satellites operate in Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO, ~36,000 km altitude with high latency), Medium Earth Orbit (MEO), and Low Earth Orbit (LEO, 500–2,000 km altitude with low latency). LEO constellations like Starlink enable faster data transmission with reduced delays.
Low Latency Through LEO Satellites: Using a network of interconnected LEO satellites with optical links allows quick data routing, making satellite internet better suited for real-time applications like video calls and gaming.
High Cost and Affordability: Equipment and subscription prices, like Starlink’s ₹33,000 terminal and ₹3,000–4,200 monthly fee, remain too high for many rural users, risking exclusion of low-income communities without subsidies or scale.
Technical Limitations:
Latency: Geostationary satellites cause delays of 500–600 ms, unsuitable for real-time apps. Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites offer lower latency but require extensive satellite constellations and ground stations.
Bandwidth: User capacity is limited, and heavy local use can slow speeds.
Weather Dependence: Heavy rain or obstacles like trees and tall structures can disrupt signals.
Infrastructure Dependence: Despite satellites, reliable local routers and fiber optic backhaul at gateway stations remain essential.
Regulatory and Security Concerns:
Licensing has been cautious due to strategic and security risks; unauthorized use of satellite systems, especially in conflict zones, raises concerns.
Licensing mandates strict compliance with data interception and localization.
Spectrum allocation delays and disputes slow market entry.
Business and Operational Issues:
High launch and maintenance costs, with LEO satellites needing replacement every 5–7 years.
Intense global competition and dependency on imported tech hinder domestic growth in satellite-related manufacturing.
Policy and Governance Challenges: Rules on cross-border data flow, tariffs, and satellite orbit management are still evolving, causing uncertainty that deters investment and delays deployment.
Affordability and Inclusion
Affordable satellite internet services are essential to expand digital connectivity in rural and remote areas.
Government schemes like Digital Bharat Nidhi can subsidize satellite broadband services and partially cover terminal/device costs.
Example: A voucher model for NE rural communities under the Universal Service Obligation Fund.
The New Telecom Policy should explicitly integrate satellite based internet services into digital inclusion targets to bridge the digital divide.
Public–Private Partnerships (PPP) and Domestic Capacity
Agencies such as Bharat Broadband Network Limited (BBNL) and NSIL can anchor satellite communications projects, building on the BharatNet Project experience.
State governments in underserved regions (islands, tribal belts) can tie up with ISRO and private players to harness satellite internet for local internet connectivity.
Educational institutions (IITs, IIST) and startups can innovate satellite technology, especially low-cost terminals.
Incentivize satellite based services manufacturing through PLI schemes, ensuring Indian telecom companies and hardware firms gain a foothold in the satellite internet market.
Targeted Rollouts and Innovation
Prioritize connectivity for remote and underserved regions: high Himalayas, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, tribal districts, deep-sea boats.
Pilot projects in these remote and rural areas will generate valuable data for scaling policies.
Encourage innovation in the space segment and ground segment, including lighter, energy-efficient VSATs and smartphone-enabled wireless internet connection kits.
Regulatory Reforms
TRAI’s proposal to extend spectrum tenure should be quickly adopted to attract investment into satellite based projects.
Streamlined approvals via IN-SPACe and DoT will speed up deployment of satellite internet services.
Ensure balance between connectivity challenges and security: maintain a database of authorized terminals, empower police to verify usage.
Strong cybersecurity norms (encryption, data residency) will boost trust in internet services.
Digital Literacy and Last-Mile Integration
Delivering satellite broadband services is not enough; villagers need training to use digital services effectively.
Integration with terrestrial networks and schemes like PM-WANI can extend wireless internet connection provided via satellite backhaul.
Include satellite communications in disaster management drills for relief teams.
Tie satellite based services into Smart Villages, e-governance, and other digital connectivity initiatives to maximize economic growth.
Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs)
Q. What is satellite internet in India?
A. It is broadband internet delivered via satellites instead of fiber/microwave. Using GEO or LEO satellites, it can reach any location (especially unserved rural/remote areas).
Q. How is portable satellite internet in India useful?
A. Portable satellite kits (like VSAT terminals or Starlink dishes) enable connectivity in remote or mobile scenarios. For instance, rescue teams in flood-hit Uttarakhand used satellite phones to communicate when ground networks failed.
Q. Can India get LEO-based internet via satellite?
A. Yes. India’s new space reforms and licensing now allow LEO constellations (e.g. Starlink, OneWeb). India is moving toward LEO/MEO systems for lower latency, with industry licensees approved and ISRO planning its own broadband SATS.
Q. What are key challenges to satellite internet access in India?
A. Major challenges include high costs (equipment and ₹3,000+ monthly fees), regulatory hurdles (spectrum, security clearances) and tech limits (latency and weather effects). Building local infrastructure and ensuring affordability are key hurdles to address.
Conclusion
Satellite internet in India is poised to be a transformative force for digital inclusion. By beaming connectivity from space, it can plug the last gaps of India’s digital map – from tribal villages in the northeast to islands like Lakshadweep. The combination of portable satellite kits and future LEO networks will bring broadband where fiber never went. For governance, this means empowered citizens, better health/education outreach and stronger disaster response. However, success will require careful policy (balancing openness with security) and public investment (subsidies, local tech). In the long run, satellite broadband aligns with India’s vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 by reinforcing strategic autonomy and bridging the digital divide.
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