During the inaugural session of the India Mobile Congress 2023, Bharti Airtel Chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal announced that the OneWeb satellite communication service is set to connect all parts of India starting next month.
He highlighted the successful launch of 5G services last year, with Airtel’s coverage extending to 5,000 towns, cities, and 20,000 villages across the country. Through the Universal Services Obligation Fund, Airtel has been working on connecting rural and remote areas, and now, satellite technology is poised to bridge connectivity gaps across the nation.
Mittal expressed, “OneWeb constellation is ready to serve the globe and is ready to serve the country. Anybody, anywhere in the country, in remote parts or in difficult areas , wherever they are located can be connected from next month.”
This technology will enable individuals, regardless of their location, whether in remote or challenging areas, to establish connectivity. The achievement marks a significant step in realizing broadband internet services from space, made possible by OneWeb’s constellation of over 618 low earth orbit satellites. Bharti Enterprises holds the largest stake in the merged entity, with a 21.2 percent share.
This development signifies a substantial leap forward in extending internet access to underserved and remote regions, with satellite-based solutions playing a pivotal role in providing connectivity to previously unconnected areas.
