Jio Satellite Communication and One Web get license for satellite internet service

November 11, 2023

Pune: According to a report, Jio Satellite Communications and One Web, supported by Bharti Enterprises, have been granted licenses by the government to offer broadband internet services to end-users via satellite. 

These licenses enable both companies to operate as pan-India Internet Service Providers (ISPs), which is crucial for delivering internet connectivity through satellite or mobile networks. With the licenses in place and clarity on satellite spectrum allocation, the stage is set for the commercial launch of satellite-based internet services.

OneWeb and Jio Satellite have been granted the global mobile personal communication by satellite services (GMPCS) license by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) in India. This license enables the companies to offer satellite-based broadband services to end users at their homes and offices, as per the ISP licenses granted to them.

Jio Satellite obtained its ISP license a month ago, whereas OneWeb was granted the ISP A (national area) and VSAT licenses just recently. VSAT is a crucial tool for providing broadband internet services to households and businesses due to its data transmission capabilities. It is a device that comes with an antenna and is typically utilized for transmitting and receiving data, voice, and video signals. VSAT is frequently used as a connectivity solution for banking/ATM machines in rural regions and provides backhaul connectivity for cellular mobile services.

Jio Satellite and One Web have obtained GMPCS and ISP licenses, positioning themselves to commercially deploy their satellite-based internet services. The final step in this process is to gain clarity on the allocation of the satellite spectrum. During the India Mobile Congress, Reliance Jio Infocomm showcased its satellite-based broadband services, known as JioSpaceFiber. The aim of this service is to provide high-speed broadband access to previously unreachable areas within India.

Jio has informed that the service will be available nationwide at affordable prices. Additionally, at the same event, Bharti Airtel Chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal announced that One Web has successfully completed its constellation of over 618 low earth orbit satellites. This achievement will reportedly enable One Web to offer broadband internet services from space to every corner of the globe.