Tata Group’s Nelco has received preliminary approval from the Indian government to operate as a virtual network operator (VNO) for satellite broadband services. This new licence will allow Nelco to resell satellite internet by partnering with major providers, including Starlink, Eutelsat OneWeb, Amazon’s Kuiper, and Jio Satellite, without owning satellites or major infrastructure. The approach enables Nelco to enter the growing satellite broadband market with reduced capital expenditure and flexibility to address varied connectivity needs, including on-the-move and portable solutions.
The company recently inked an agreement with Eutelsat OneWeb to deliver low-earth orbit satellite connectivity across India, supplementing its existing offerings such as ATM connectivity and in-flight communications, which previously relied mainly on ISRO and leased foreign satellite capacity. Once fully licensed, Nelco aims to expand both retail and enterprise satellite broadband, further aligning with India’s push for digital and remote connectivity. Analysts expect India’s satellite communications market to surge from $2.3 billion to $20 billion by 2028.
This pivot marks a shift from Nelco’s earlier strategy of seeking a direct GMPCS licence to operate its own satellite constellation, a plan dropped following delays in partner Telesat’s LEO satellite deployment. The firm now focuses on leveraging third-party constellations (LEO, GEO, MEO) to provide multi-modal, branded connectivity under the new VNO regime, ensuring more agile growth as spectrum allocation policies continue to evolve.
CT Bureau