DoT Clears OneWeb, Jio and Starlink for Nationwide Satellite Mobile Services

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has granted Unified Licences (UL) with Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite (GMPCS) authorisation to OneWeb India Communications Pvt. Ltd. , JIO Satellite Communications Ltd. , and Starlink Satellite Communications Pvt. Ltd. , clearing the way for these companies to provide satellite-based mobile voice and broadband services across India. Dr. Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar , Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development , informed the Rajya Sabha that over the last five years seven firms applied for GMPCS licences Nelco , Yotta Network Services , OneWeb India , Jio Satellite , Starlink , Amazon Kuiper Services India , and Connect4sure but after evaluation, DoT rejected the applications of Nelco and Yotta, Connect4sure withdrew , and Amazon Kuiper’s application is still under review.

The new authorisations are intended to extend connectivity to remote, underserved and unserved areas , including coastal, border and mountainous regions where traditional terrestrial networks like optical fibre and microwave links are difficult or costly to deploy. Licence terms require authorised operators to offer service without discrimination anywhere within the licence area, a provision aimed at bridging the digital divide and supporting last-mile connectivity . Satellite services are expected to be particularly useful for enterprise , government , maritime , disaster-response , and rural broadband use cases.

The licensing process involves stringent security and compliance checks , including ownership, data handling, and local infrastructure requirements. Operators must meet regulations on lawful interception, data sovereignty , and ensure that traffic management aligns with India’s national security objectives . These regulatory safeguards are designed to balance speedy rollout with protection of Indian user data and network integrity.

Authorising global constellation players like Starlink alongside OneWeb and a domestic entrant in Jio Satellite creates a competitive and complementary market landscape. Starlink brings a proven low-latency LEO broadband product , OneWeb is positioned for enterprise and government connectivity , and Jio can integrate satellite coverage with its extensive fibre backbone and retail reach. This mix of capabilities is expected to accelerate adoption, although clarity on spectrum allocation , ground infrastructure permissions and interconnection rules will be crucial for rollout speed and pricing.

While licence grant is a regulatory milestone, operators still need to secure spectrum , complete security vetting , and build ground infrastructure such as teleports and gateways before full commercial launches. Interim trials and spectrum testing have been underway, but commercial operations will depend on final clearances and last-mile deployment strategies . The government continues to update regulatory frameworks affecting GMPCS and related services, aiming to balance innovation, investment attractiveness, and security requirements.

This initiative marks a significant step in India’s digital infrastructure evolution , potentially enabling access to telemedicine , education , e-governance , and economic opportunities in regions where reliable connectivity has been elusive. For policymakers and industry alike, the focus now shifts to ensuring affordability , coverage expansion , and robust service quality as satellite mobile services begin to integrate with the broader telecommunications ecosystem.