Latest news with #UnifiedLicense
News18
3 days ago
- Business
- News18
Google, Starlink To Boost India's Digital Infrastructure? Exclusive From Govt Sources
Last Updated: News18 has exclusively accessed the Centre's approval letter to Starlink. News18 spoke to senior government sources on what the developments could mean for India India's digital infrastructure is set to get a boost. While Google plans to set up a key data centre in India, Starlink has received a licence authorisation for its services in the country. News18 has exclusively accessed the Centre's approval letter to Starlink. News18 spoke to senior government sources on what this could mean for India. 'Any Internet connectivity is good. Look at the amount of data India consumes. In such a scenario, a Google data centre could easily improve services and reduce the costing, which is great news," sources said. 'Apart from costing and connectivity, such a move would also boost India's global image as an international digital hub. The improvement in global sentiment always works in favour of the country," said sources. Mumbai, Kochi and Chennai have cable landing centres. The move would reinforce India's role as a key market for Google's AI and cloud growth strategy. 'Data centre will need land. Cables in Mumbai and Kochi would be key to provide services to South Asia." However, sources said the licensing provisions need to be thrashed out. 'Security should be taken into consideration. India could put a cap in case of cyber attack or a clause seeking cooperation." Earlier, reports had stated that Google was reportedly close to acquiring a 22.5-acre plot in Navi Mumbai to develop its first self-built data centre in the country. This expansion had come in the wake of Google strengthening its commitment to supporting the rapid adoption of AI and cloud technologies in India. The LoI granted: 'Unified License with authorizations for VSAT(National Area), ISP A(National Area) and GMPCS (National Area) on non-exclusive basis subject to the guidelines of Unified License dated 17.01.2022 and as amended from time to time". 'The Letter of Intent (Lol) is being issued based on the information/certificate submitted by your application ID UL20221041 dated 08.02.2024 and UL 20210651 dated 14.10.2022 with the condition that at a later date if the information/certificate is found wrong or misleading, the license shall be liable to be terminated. Further, if the information/ certificate/ undertaking being submitted by the company along with the compliance of the Lol, is found wrong or misleading at a later date, then also, the license shall be liable to be terminated or any other action as deemed fit by the licensor," it said. First Published:
The Hindu
06-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Government bans Indian satellite internet terminals from working outside India
Even as Elon Musk-owned satellite internet service Starlink awaits clearances to operate in India, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) this week issued further amendments to the Unified License (UL) and the Global Mobile Personal Communications by Satellite (GMPCS) authorisation, the latter of which satellite internet services need to begin offering their services in India. The requirements come in the wake of the Pahalgam attack in Kashmir. Many of the terms, issued through a circular by the DoT, echo existing requirements for all telecom licensees - such as enabling surveillance of users' web traffic, a requirement already in place for telecom operators and home broadband providers. But they come as an additional compliance burden at a crucial time, especially as Starlink faces a prolonged delay in obtaining the GMPCS authorisation, as well as satellite spectrum, which it needs to commence services. 'It is noteworthy that these security conditions have been introduced as an amendment to the Unified Licence itself, rather than as a separate guideline, ensuring that they are uniformly applicable to both existing GMPCS licensees and future applicants,' Mahwash Fatima, a public policy manager at tech policy firm The Quantum Hub told The Hindu. 'This provides regulatory consistency at a time when two players have already received GMPCS licences and others are in the pipeline.' While the amendments harmonise many requirements between telecom operators and satellite operators in the future, a key requirement may well be unprecedented anywhere in the world, and undermine Starlink's allure to some of its customers in India. Namely, while satellite terminals sold abroad must be disabled on Indian soil, the amendments also require that Indian-purchased terminals be disabled in other countries. Another unique requirement is that terminals must eventually be manufactured in India, within a five year span. 'The intent behind mandating geo-fencing is to prevent cross-border signal spillover, especially in sensitive regions, and to ensure that satellite connectivity can be monitored, intercepted, and governed in India,' Ms. Fatima said. This may 'create operational challenges for roaming terminals, such as those used in aviation, maritime, etc.,' she added. Starlink offers plans that work internationally, under a global roaming scheme, and this service will be unavailable to Indians traveling abroad, even when they're in a country where Starlink is expressly permitted, forcing them to potentially buy a second terminal when abroad - which they are prohibited from possessing in India. While Starlink inked deals with Jio Platforms Ltd, and Bharti Airtel Ltd. to distribute its services through the telcos, the firm faces enormous regulatory friction; the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India is yet to publish guidelines on how firms like Starlink can acquire spectrum, and the Department of Telecommunications has not indicated that it is in a hurry to begin that process either. The firm's executives met Commerce and Industries Minister Piyush Goyal last month where they reportedly discussed their entry to the Indian market.
Mint
05-05-2025
- Business
- Mint
Starlink, Kuiper, other satcom firms told to meet 20% local manufacturing target
Satellite internet services providers such as Starlink, Amazon's Kuiper, Eutelsat OneWeb, and Jio will have to submit a yearly plan to the government showing how they will gradually increase local manufacturing of ground segments of their satellite network in the country, according to new guidelines by the department of telecommunications (DoT) on Monday. The government has asked companies looking to provide satellite internet services in the country to target at least 20% indigenisation of the ground segment of their satellite network within five years of beginning commercial operations in the country. 'The licensee, in the format prescribed, will submit to the licensor a year-wise phased manufacturing programme aiming at indigenisation,' DoT said in the guidelines. The government wants to reduce reliance on foreign technology and boost local manufacturing through this requirement. Ground segment involves gateways, antennas, terminals, etc. The new guidelines are incorporated into Chapter XII of the Unified License (UL) Agreement for the provision of GMPCS (global mobile personal communication by satellite) service. In a bid to tighten security norms, DoT said such companies, which acquire the GMPCS licence, would require security clearance for specific gateway or hub locations in the country. The gateways are essential for the provision of satellite communication services as they serve as the connection point between satellites and the local telecom networks. These hubs process and route the data transmitted via satellite to users on the ground. 'Given their (gateways) critical role in handling sensitive communication traffic, securing these installations is vital to national security,' a government official said, adding that a fresh set of guidelines was required, given that many global companies are looking to enter the country. As per the guidelines, the companies will be required to provide monitoring and lawful interception at the gateway or point of presence. This means that the government wants to ensure that these satellite service providers can help monitor and intercept communications when legally required, just like regular telecom operators. 'Essential functionalities like Lawful Interception facility, monitoring/ control facility of user terminals, user data traffic routing, control of equipment in Gateway routing data traffic, etc., of the Network Control and Monitoring Centre (or equivalent facility) shall be located in India,' DoT said in the new guidelines. NCMC is a centralized facility used by satellite communication providers to manage, control, and monitor their satellite network operations. Currently, the government has approved the application of Bharti Enterprises-backed Eutelsat OneWeb and Jio, whereas companies such as Elon Musk-owned Starlink, Amazon's Kuiper and Globalstar are waiting for regulatory clearances. The government has asked the companies to implement service restriction/ denial to any individual, group of subscribers or certain geographical areas during hostilities or under cases as informed by the law enforcement or security agencies. 'The licensees shall ensure the accuracy of geo-fencing in case of debarred areas and also reshape footprint patterns near border areas to avoid spillovers (to neighbouring territories),' DoT said. Additionally, the government will define special monitoring zones within 50 km of international borders and along coastal areas (up to 200 nautical miles into the sea). These zones will be monitored by designated law enforcement and security agencies to keep track of user activity for national security purposes. One of the key conditions which the government requires the operators to follow is the localisation of data. 'The Indian user traffic shall not be routed through any Gateway/PoP (point of presence) located abroad or any space system, which is not part of satellite/constellation used for providing service,' DoT said, adding that the licensee will have to submit an undertaking that it shall not copy and decrypt the Indian telecom data outside India. To comply with data localisation, the government wants companies to ensure that the data centre is based within India's geographical boundary and shall make provision to provide Domain Name System (DNS) resolution within India's boundary. The government said that the location of its user terminals or any other sensitive information pertaining to the user shall not be visible or accessible at any location abroad. Further, operators are asked to seek separate clearance (from a security angle) for voice and data services, fixed location services (no mobility/ limited mobility), and mobility (full)- based services. Additionally, the operators seeking the licence are asked to submit a confirmation that no surveillance activity can be carried out with the satellite constellation. The companies will have to ensure that websites blocked in India are also blocked through satellite internet services. They will also have to facilitate metadata collection by the Telecom Security Operation Centre (TSOC) under DoT, according to the guidelines. Notably, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) is currently finalising the contours of the satellite spectrum allocation. First Published: 5 May 2025, 11:28 PM IST
