As Musk awaits clearance, India does its maiden indigenous satcom messaging on regular smartphone

NEW DELHI: “Hello India” – came the message from 36,000 kms up in space. Without much fanfare, India scaled a major landmark in consumer mobile communications as the country saw its first satellite messaging on a regular smartphone from earth to a geostationary satellite deep inside space and then return back within a few seconds on another phone, marking it the first such satellite conversation through an indigenously-developed system.

The development comes just as American billionaire Elon Musk awaits clearance to launch his Starlink satcom services in India, and others such as Sunil Mittal-run One Web look for spectrum allocation.

The transmission of the message — as a technology showcase — was done over the network of public sector BSNL which has created sophisticated landing stations outside the national capital for enabling two-way communications between space and earth, various officials told TOI.

The satellite link for this communication has been provided by American satcom major Viasat which is partnering BSNL for the ‘ Direct To Device ’ (D2D) service that in simple words means relaying of satellite messaging on a regular smartphone. So far, any type of satellite communication (for example by defence forces, sophisticated organisations, or high-profile individuals) is possible on specialized devices, which cannot correspond with regular smartphones that run on terrestrial networks.

While currently messaging has been demonstrated that can be used for SOS or emergency transmission from unconnected areas, the same can later be extended to regular messaging, calling, and even internet browsing — all of which are currently offered by regular mobile operators.

“BSNL, in an exclusive partnership with Viasat, is proud to lead Direct-to-Device innovation. Today's successful demonstration, the first in India, showcases the potential to enhance direct communications for critical services, disaster recovery, and even rural connectivity across India using the BSNL network and Viasat’s L-band satellite constellations,” BSNL CMD Robert J Ravi said.

Gautam Sharma, MD of Viasat in India, said India is an important market for the company. “We continue our commitment to giving mission-critical, inflight, and maritime services. Viasat is proud to demonstrate the first D2D service within India, which has the potential of giving SOS and two-way messaging for 1.4-billion Indians where there is no cellular connectivity using non-terrestrial network (NTN)-enabled mobile phones.”

Right now, the devices that can enable such conversations (once BSNL launches them commercially) include the new Google Pixel and a model from Motorola. Viasat also sells a ‘companion’ device in many international markets which makes it possible for any regular device to do satellite communication on payment of a fee.

“One has to switch over to satellite mode on the device, and then messaging is possible with any other device. The potential is immense, and one can look at calling and broadband at a later stage as the device ecosystem becomes bigger,” another official said.

Having the landing stations in the country also means that law-enforcement agencies (LWEs) will have access to any type of illegal conversations or messaging on the satellite devices.

Right now, the govt is seeing the development as an enabler to support network expansion in unconnected areas such as deep jungles, mountainous areas, remote villages, sea, or other difficult terrains. “But in the long run, these will emerge as yet another alternative for communication services,” the official said.

In fact, in markets like the US, Viasat is already selling satellite broadband solutions for homes in direct competition to conventional mobile operators.