India to get low-earth-orbit satellite internet thanks to OneWeb and Hughes
OneWeb just announced the launch of 60% of its LEO satellite fleet in order to provide high-speed, low-latency connections around the world
Bharti Airtel has inked a key six-year partnership with the UK government's global communication network OneWeb and internet service provider Hughes to offer low Earth orbit (LEO) connection services to India. OneWeb just announced the launch of 60% of its LEO satellite fleet in order to provide high-speed, low-latency connection around the world.
Hughes Communications India Private Ltd. (HCIPL) would be allowed to use OneWeb's capacity to provide services to businesses and governments. This will be especially valuable in locations where fibre connectivity is not available. According to the corporations, OneWeb's network will be able to connect towns, villages, and local and regional municipalities in the most difficult-to-reach places.
Partho Banerjee, President and Managing Director, HCIPL, said, "This announcement marks a turning point for Digital India. Enterprise and government customers, including telecom service providers, banks, factories, schools, defence organisations, domestic airlines, and offshore vessel operators, are eagerly anticipating the arrival of new high-performing Satcom services."
According to OneWeb CEO Neil Masterson, the company's constellation would cover the length and width of India, from Ladakh to Kanyakumari, and from Gujarat to the Northeast, to provide solutions to businesses, governments, telcos, airlines, and maritime customers.
Hughes' parent business EchoStar, which is also an ecosystem partner of OneWeb, has a long-standing partnership with OneWeb.
OneWeb has launched 396 in-orbit satellites since its most recent launch on December 27, accounting for more than 60% of the planned 648 LEO satellite fleet. By the end of 2022, it plans to begin global service.
