Singtel seeks approval to provide satellite services directly in India

Singapore Telecommunications (Singtel) is the latest entrant to eye a piece of India’s skies after Bharti Airtel, Elon Musk’s Starlink, Amazon and Jio. The company is looking to provide satellite services directly in India. The company, in a statement, added that they are currently in the process of obtaining approvals from Indian authorities.

According to a report in The Economic Times that cited people in the know, Singtel plans to target both public and private enterprises with its satcom offerings through its wholly-owned unit Singapore Telecom India (STIPL). The company has reportedly sought foreign direct investment (FDI) approval from the government. A government official acknowledged that they received Singtel’s application.

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A company spokesperson said, "With the recent changes to India's space policy, we are currently in the process of obtaining approval from the relevant Indian authorities to enable our Indian subsidiary, Singapore Telecom India Private Limited, to provide satellite services directly in India.”

STIPL has been operating in India for the past two decades but it needs fresh approval for its FDI as it seeks to expand its scope to include satellite communication-related services, as per the report. It currently provides broadcasting satellite capacity to a DTH operator.

Singtel also has a platform that allows integration of multiple orbit satellites like GEO, MEO and LEO with terrestrial fixed and mobile networks like 4G/5G, the report added.

The company is also a significant stakeholder in Bharti Airtel, where it owns a 26.85 per cent direct and indirect stake.

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Singtel is the latest addition in a growing list of satcom players that plan to offer the service using low earth orbit satellites. None of the parties have been able to launch services in India due to lack of security clearance, undecided spectrum pricing and a tussle over regulations with traditional telecom operators.

The company reportedly also has made sizeable investment in the space segment, and plans to support India’s space ambitions, as mentioned by a source to the financial daily.