Eutelsat OneWeb to launch satellite constellation for broadband service in India

Subject : Science and Tech

Section: Space tech

In the news:

OneWeb India, a subsidiary of Eutelsat Group and backed by telecom giant, Bharti Group said that it has acquired approval from India’s space regulator, IN-SPACe, to launch commercial satellite broadband services in the country.

Details:

It is the first organisation to get approval for commercial satellite broadband services in India. The approval is valid for five years.
It will meet India’s ambition of providing internet connectivity for all.

Eutelsat OneWeb:

Eutelsat OneWeb is a subsidiary of Eutelsat Group providing broadband satellite Internet services in low Earth orbit (LEO).
Headquartered in London and has offices in Virginia, US and a satellite manufacturing facility in Florida – Airbus OneWeb Satellites – that is a joint venture with Airbus Defence and Space.
Founded by Greg Wyler in 2012.
As of 2021, Indian multinational company Bharti Global, France-based satellite service provider Eutelsat and the Government of the United Kingdom were the company’s largest shareholders.
On 28 September 2023, Eutelsat was completely merged with OneWeb and created the “Eutelsat Group” company, with subsidiaries “Eutelsat” and “Eutelsat OneWeb”.

Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe):

It is a single-window, independent, nodal agency that functions as an autonomous agency in the Department of Space (DOS).
It was formed following the Space sector reforms to enable and facilitate the participation of private players.
IN-SPACe is responsible for promoting, enabling authorising and supervising various space activities of non-governmental entities including building launch vehicles & satellites and providing space-based services; sharing space infrastructure and premises under the control of DOS/ISRO; and establishing new space infrastructure and facilities.
The agency acts as an interface between ISRO and Non-Governmental Entities (NGEs) and assesses how to utilize India’s space resources better and increase space-based activities. It also assesses the needs and demands of private players, including educational and research institutions, and explores ways to accommodate these requirements in consultation with ISRO.