Viasat & BSNL Trial Satellite Smartphone Services in India

Viasat, a global leader in satellite communications, has successfully demonstrated direct-to-device satellite connectivity in India with BSNL, India’s telecommunications provider. 

In a national first, Viasat engineers showcased satellite-powered two-way messaging services at India Mobile Congress. The company is currently working with BSNL in India to power the expansion of satellite services on consumer and IoT devices around the world.

Enhancing direct communications

In addition to messaging, Viasat was able to demonstrate SOS messaging using a commercial Android smartphone enabled for non-terrestrial network (NTN) connectivity. The messages were sent roughly 36,000km to one of Viasat’s geostationary L-band satellites. 

Such a successful outcome highlights that satellite services to cell phone connectivity is technically feasible for Indian consumers and businesses using Viasat’s satellite network.

Direct-to-device connectivity is a new technology which allows everyday devices – like mobile phones, smart watches, or cars to connect seamlessly to both terrestrial and satellite coverage. 

Such connectivity results in devices being able to stay connected from any location without the need for dedicated hardware to connect to satellites. The new technology follows new global mobile 3GPP release 17 standards, which are currently being adopted by satellite operators, mobile network operators, handset and chipset manufacturers.

“It is exciting to be showcasing the potential for direct-to-device in India, where D2D could help reduce barriers to accessing satellite connectivity – particularly in India where millions do not have access to reliable terrestrial connectivity,” explains Sandeep Moorthy, Chief Technical Officer at Viasat. 

“In the future, D2D could help transform the Indian production and supply chain to become more efficient, more sustainable and safer, and support automotive applications to enhance safety and conditions-based maintenance.”

Bolstering connectivity across India

India has one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing mobile markets, which has been exacerbated by the global technology boom.

Currently, 4G networks cover most of the country and 5G is now being rolled out across major cities. Fierce competition within the market has led to some of the world's lowest data prices, which has driven widespread smartphone adoption and internet usage, alongside companies around the world being eager to invest. 

However, significant connectivity and network quality challenges remain in rural areas. In response, the government has sought to bridge the urban-rural digital divide in order to bolster national innovation and digital transformation. 

Some of the highlights from India Mobile Congress 2024:

In line with this, Viasat is eager to continue providing satellite services across the country. Most recently, the company acquired Inmarsat to further improve connectivity for India, placing it at the centre of many important communications.

Sandeep Moorthy adds: “With partners like BSNL, Viasat is driving a standards-based, open, transparent, collaborative D2D ecosystem to deliver seamless connectivity experiences no matter where a person, device, or vehicle is.”

Viasat is also a founding member of MSSA, a non-profit industry association formed to support open interoperable architectures and standards for integrating terrestrial and NTN services. 

For mobile network operators, using existing licensed satellite spectrum avoids tying up valuable cellular spectrum and avoids new regulatory approval processes.

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