Tata Group, through its satellite communications arm Nelco, has taken a major step into the satellite internet industry by partnering with Eutelsat to offer OneWeb LEO satellite connectivity across India, targeting both enterprise and government users.
Strategic Partnership Details
- Multi-Orbit Strategy: Nelco aims to enable secure, low-latency LEO connectivity via Eutelsat’s OneWeb network, which offers pan-India coverage, including remote regions and territorial waters.
- Target Segments: The services, designed for government, enterprise, maritime, and aviation applications, will bolster national security, digital infrastructure, and connectivity in underserved areas. The Financial Express
- Timeline: Launch is planned once OneWeb’s LEO network becomes commercially operational in India.
Background & Earlier Initiatives
- Past Trials with Telesat: Nelco, in partnership with Canada’s Telesat, conducted in-orbit trials in 2022, achieving real-time “fiber-like” broadband speeds (~35 ms latency) within India.
- Licence Play: Nelco had earlier applied for a GMPCS licence to enter consumer satellite broadband but withdrew it in 2023 amid regulatory uncertainty.
- Policy Alignment: Industry groups, including Nelco and Tata Play, have supported administrative allocation of satellite spectrum over auctions—arguing that satellite services can efficiently share the same spectrum, unlike point-to-point terrestrial systems.
What It Means for India
- Enhanced Connectivity: This move promises high-speed internet access in remote, maritime, and aerial zones—areas where traditional infrastructure is limited.
- National Security Edge: LEO-based networks can serve critical defense and strategic communication needs with improved resilience.
- Competition & Growth: Tata Group now joins forces with OneWeb and Eutelsat to compete in India’s emerging satellite internet market, alongside players like Starlink, Amazon’s Project Kuiper, and Bharti-backed OneWeb.
