Latest news with #USOF
Mint
09-07-2025
- Business
- Mint
Elon Musk's Starlink gets the final clearance to satellite internet services in India
Elon Musk-owned Starlink has cleared the last regulatory hurdle to begin offering satellite-based internet in India. The company has received authorization from the Indian National Space Promotion & Authorization Centre, or IN-SPACe, for its Gen 1 constellation capacity over India, showed the space regulator's website. The authorization has been given for five years till 7 July 2030. Of around 6,750 satellites, Starlink has over 4,000 first-generation satellites, according to NewSpace Index. "Starlink was given the approval after following the necessary process and performing all the checks,' an official said on the condition of anonymity. Jio Platforms' joint venture partner, Luxembourg-based SES, has also secured authorization for a total of 24 satellites over India, the In-SPACe website showed. IN-SPACe, under the space department, oversees space activities in the country, particularly by private players. With this approval, Starlink has joined Eutelsat OneWeb and Jio-SES joint venture in getting all the required approvals to launch satellite internet services in the country. Amazon's Kuiper is also seeking to enter the country and is awaiting the government's approval of its application. The licence for Starlink comes as India looks to close a bilateral trade deal with the US to avoid a potential 26% reciprocal tariff. Interestingly, Musk announced his exit from US President Donald Trump's administration on 29 May and stepped down as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Starlink will now need to set up earth station gateways, ground-based facilities that connect satellites to local networks, a critical component of internet connectivity. However, the commercial launch will have to wait as the government has yet to allocate spectrum to these entities. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has recommended administrative allocation of spectrum, as opposed to auctions, for satellite internet services. It said satcom companies would have to pay annual spectrum charges of either 4% of their adjusted gross revenue (AGR) or ₹ 3,500 per MHz, whichever is higher. The recommendations are pending with the department of telecommunications (DoT), and the Centre is expected to notify the terms and pricing for spectrum allotment soon. Satcom operators will also have to pay an annual licence fee of 8% of AGR as per the DoT's current authorization terms. This is similar to what telecom operators pay, which includes a 5% licence fee and 3% towards the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF). Additionally, Trai has recommended an annual charge of ₹ 500 per subscriber for satellite service providers in urban areas. The approval for Starlink has come a month after it received a crucial licence from the DoT. On 6 June, the DoT granted Starlink the critical Global Mobile Personal Communications by Satellite (GMPCS) licence, marking a major milestone in its entry into the Indian market, after a three-year wait. The GMPCS licence allows companies to offer voice and data services through satellite. The licence is issued for 20 years and allows companies to offer satellite communication services in licensed service areas. Starlink applied for a GMPCS licence in 2022. It started taking bookings for its satellite-based services from Indian customers in 2021 without even getting the license. The government then directed it to call off such bookings as they could not be done without a licence. In compliance with the DoT order, it returned the booking amounts to over 5,000 pre-booked customers. Starlink has also received internet services provider (ISP) and very small aperture terminal (VSAT) licences from the government. Mint was the first to report on 7 May that Starlink got the letter of intent after agreeing to comply with licensing conditions critical to national security. 'The company will next be given the trial spectrum to test its services and show compliance with the security norms,' the second government official said. The Centre has allotted provisional spectrum to OneWeb and Jio as well to comply with the security norms, including lawful interception, network control and monitoring, geofencing of services and data localization. Compliance with conditions is essential for companies before starting satellite internet services commercially. On 20 June, Mint reported the Centre has extended the trial spectrum usage period for satellite internet providers such as Bharti Enterprises-backed Eutelsat OneWeb and Jio Satellite by another six months, until November, offering them crucial breathing space to comply with India's stringent security requirements.
The Hindu
30-06-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
ITI Ltd to deploy BharatNet project worth ₹1,901 cr in North Eastern Region
ITI Ltd., independent India's first PSU and a telecom manufacturing company, on Monday signed an agreement as Project Implementing Agency (PIA) with BSNL on behalf of the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) for NER-II (North Eastern Region) Package-15 of BharatNet Phase-3 Project. According to the PSU, the total value of the contract is ₹1,901 crore, including capital expenditure (capex) and operating expenditure (opex). The order value comprises ₹1,168 crore as capex, ₹700.84 crore as opex for the newly constructed network, and ₹32.21 crore as opex for the maintenance of the existing network. Rajesh Rai, Chairman and Managing Director, ITI Limited, said, 'ITI is happy to sign the agreement with BSNL on behalf of USOF for execution of yet another package of the BharatNet Phase-3 Project. This is a very challenging project. My team is all set and we will give our best to complete this project to the complete satisfaction of our client.' In November 2024, ITI Limited, with its consortium partner, had emerged as the lowest bidder (L1) for Package No. 15 of BharatNet Phase-3 Project comprising Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Manipur states, ITI said in a statement.
Time of India
18-06-2025
- Time of India
Mobile tower installed in Chhattisgarh village where Naxals killed 8 security men in Jan
Raipur: A mobile tower has been installed at a remote village in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district, where Naxals blew up a vehicle using an IED killing eight security men and their civilian driver in January, police said, allowing residents to access Internet and other telecom services. A police official posted in the Bastar region said on Wednesday the new mobile tower at Ambeli village started functioning on Monday (June 16). Residents of Ambeli and nearby villages Uskapatnam, Karkeli and Tungeli will now have access to faster mobile connectivity and Internet services, he said. The facility of mobile tower has been provided under the 'Niyad Nellanar' (your good village) initiative of the state government, aimed at facilitating development works in remote villages, and the Centre-sponsored Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) scheme, the official informed. "Now, it has become possible for villagers to get benefits of mobile network. Besides, students studying in rural areas and the youth preparing for competitive exams will get the benefit of strong network and Internet facility," he said. Keeping in view the growing need of mobile and Internet services in day-to-day life, cellphone towers are being installed to strengthen telecom communication system in the Bastar region, where security forces are engaged in all-out operations against Maoists, the official maintained. The vast region consists of seven districts, including Bijapur. "It is a crucial important step, which will provide better communication facilities to people and they will be able to connect with others in rest of the country and abroad. Besides, it will play an important role in development of the area," the official added. Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) planted by Naxalites are being cleared and police and administration are working with full commitment to ensure basic amenities like schools, hospitals, water, roads, anganwadis (child care centres) and mobile towers are available in the region, he said. On January 6, Naxals blew up a vehicle using an IED weighing 60 to 70 kg, killing eight security personnel and their civilian driver near Ambeli village under the Kutru police station area of Bijapur.
Time of India
27-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
TCIL net profit jumps 112% on-year to ₹156.04 crore in FY25
NEW DELHI: The Telecommunications Consultants of India Limited ( TCIL ) on Tuesday posted a 112% year-on-year jump in its profit after tax (PAT) at ₹156.04 crore in the fiscal year that ended March 31, 2025 (FY25). The telecom PSU had reported a net profit of ₹73.37 crore in FY24. The company's revenue, too, increased by 17% year-on-year to ₹3,502.13 crore in FY25, up from ₹2,603.46 crore in FY24. Exceptional items for the fiscal year came at ₹3,921.95 crore, comprising a gain of ₹4,237.60 crore from Bharti Hexacom Limited (BHL), minus subsidiary provision (-₹244.89 crore) and IPO exposure (-₹70.66 crore). Bharti Airtel has a 70% stake in Bharti Hexacom , with the Centre, through TCIL, holding 15%. Bharti Hexacom offers mobile services in Rajasthan and the Northeast. TCIL has executed projects in over 70 countries. Its overseas operations are currently in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Mauritius, and Nepal apart from the ongoing pan Africa e-Vidya Bharti and Arogya Bharti Network project operating in more than 15 African countries. The company is also executing several government projects such as the Defence NFS project, Navy OFC projects, Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF)-funded APSFL and Telengana Fiber Projects, Bharat Broadband Network Limited (BBNL) VSAT, Eklavya School, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) Super Edge, Teaching Learning Material for Bihar Education Council, among others.
Time of India
29-04-2025
- Time of India
Mobile connectivity reaches Gunjeparti village after long wait
Raipur: A new mobile tower was established at Gunjeparti village in Usoor police station limits in Bijapur district of Bastar division. The initiative brought long-awaited mobile network access, marking a milestone in rural connectivity, officials said on the matter. This development is part of the Chhattisgarh govt's 'Niyad Nellanar' scheme and the central govt's Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) scheme aimed at enhancing telecom access in conflict areas. With the activation of the tower on April 28, mobile and internet connectivity is now accessible not only in Gunjeparti but also in the surrounding villages of Pujarikanker, Chinganpalli, Nelakanker, and Kamalapur. Residents of these villages, previously cut off from the digital world, will now benefit from reliable communication services. The mobile tower is expected to be a game-changer for local students preparing for competitive exams, and youth seeking educational resources online, by providing stronger internet access . by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Egypt: New Small Electric Car For Seniors. Prices Might Surprise You. Electric Cars | Search Ads Undo Speaking about the development, local authorities highlighted that mobile and internet connectivity is no longer a luxury but a necessity, especially in areas striving for development and integration into the digital economy. The network coverage will not only help villagers stay in touch with family and friends but also open avenues for e-governance, telemedicine, education, and economic opportunities, authorities said.
