State-owned telecom service provider Bharatiya Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has received licence from the Department of Telecommunications to provide Internet and mobile services on flights.
BSNL and its satellite partner, Inmarsat, will be able to offer in-flight connectivity to airlines “later this year, once the ground infrastructure and associated approvals are in place,” said a press statement from Inmarsat.
Hughes Communications India Ltd., a subsidiary of a global company, and Tatanet Services have already bagged the Flight and Maritime Connectivity (FMC) licence. Bharti Airtel has also sought the permit.
The DoT had notified its rules in December allowing airlines flying within and transiting through India to provide Internet and voice services on mobile phones along with an Indian telecom operator or licencee. So far, SpiceJet has announced that it will offer Internet access to passengers. Vistara has evinced interest in this service.
According to the rules, passengers can make phone calls or use Internet when a flight is at a minimum height of 3,000 m in Indian airspace to avoid interference with terrestrial mobile networks.
