Hyderabad-based Ananth Technologies is poised to make history. It is set to become the first private Indian company to provide satellite communication (satcom) services using a satellite built domestically. This milestone represents a significant shift in India’s space and telecommunications landscape. It sets the company on a direct path to compete with global giants like Starlink (SpaceX), Eutelsat, OneWeb, and Amazon’s Project Kuiper.
According to a report, the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center (IN-SPACe) has approved Ananth Technologies’ plan to launch broadband-from-space services by 2028.
The company aims to deploy a 4-tonne geostationary (GEO) communication satellite, capable of providing data speeds of up to 100 gigabits per second (Gbps) to users nationwide. Ananth Technologies has committed an initial investment of ₹3,000 crore to the project, with the potential for additional funding based on demand, the media report said.
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Unlike many global players that operate in low Earth orbit (LEO) at altitudes ranging from 400 to 2,000 km, Ananth Technologies will launch its first private satellite broadband service in geostationary orbit, positioned more than 35,000 km above Earth.
LEO satellites, like those used by Starlink, Amazon, and OneWeb, complete an orbit every 1–2 hours, allowing for low-latency broadband. In contrast, GEO satellites orbit the Earth once every 24 hours, appearing stationary from the ground. While latency is higher in GEO systems, they offer broader territorial coverage — a single satellite can blanket the entire Indian subcontinent, unlike LEO constellations that require multiple satellites for complete coverage.
Starlink inches closer to final approval
Elon Musk’s Starlink is close to securing its final authorisation to operate in India. According to the ET report, IN-SPACe has issued a draft letter of intent to Starlink. Once both parties sign the document, formal approval will be granted.
This would place Starlink on par with other authorised providers such as Eutelsat OneWeb and Jio Satellite. In May, Starlink received the Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite (GMPCS) licence, making it the third satcom firm cleared to offer commercial services in the country.
Vodafone Idea joins satellite race
Last month, Vodafone Idea (Vi) announced a strategic alliance with US-based AST SpaceMobile to bring satellite phone services directly to standard smartphones in India. AST SpaceMobile is developing the world’s first cellular broadband network operating entirely from space, targeting both commercial and government sectors.
"Vi (Vodafone Idea) and AST SpaceMobile Inc. announced a strategic partnership to expand mobile connectivity across India's unconnected regions. AST SpaceMobile made history by placing the first-ever voice and video call from space using a standard mobile phone, a milestone that demonstrates the real-world viability of its advanced technology," Vodafone Idea said in a statement.
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