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<ul><li>The ball is finally rolling to bring Wi-Fi into the Indian airspace after two years of deliberations. </li><li><keyword id="30351" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="BSNL">BSNL</keyword> has procured the “in-flight and maritime connectivity” (IFMC) license from Inmarsat, a British telecommunications satellite company that offers global mobile services.</li><li>India is, reportedly, the only country not in-flight connectivity within its airspace aside from North Korea.</li><li>The option to activate in-flight connectivity is expected to go live later this year.</li><li>The price for availing this service will be determined by the airlines.</li></ul>Airlines flying through the Indian airspace will now be able to offer their passengers Wi-Fi connectivity in the air thanks to India's new “in-flight and maritime connectivity” (IFMC) license. Just not immediately. India's state run telecom operator, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) procured the license from Inmarsat, a British telecommunications satellite company that offers global mobile services. BSNL first indicated that flight passengers will be able to use internet on flights <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/Youll-be-able-to-use-internet-satellite-phones-on-flights-soon/articleshow/59697925.cms">within the year</a> in July 2017 after gaining the requisite approvals from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the Department of Telecommunications (DoT). In May, last year, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india-just-allowed-in-flight-connectivity-within-its-airspace/articleshow/63927632.cms">said</a> that in-flight Wi-Fi would be live within the next 3 to 4 months. Even now, despite attaining the license, the actual implementation of the technology will take a few more months. 
 
 <div type="ExtQuote" text="Inmarsat and BSNL are expected to commence services later this year once the ground infrastructure and associated approvals are in place." auname="Statement by Inmarsat"></div>



 Aside from India, North Korea is the <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/facebook-at-30-000-feet-not-above-india-1481455658">only</a> country to not allow in-flight connectivity so far which the Indian government maintains was due to national security reasons. Once the service is available, it's unlikely to be cheap. TRAI also indicated that it would be the airlines that would set the prices for in-flight connectivity. Meanwhile, since India didn't have a license, companies like Airtel found workarounds. For instance, it <a href="https://www.techradar.com/news/airtel-joins-seamless-alliance-a-global-initiative-to-improve-in-flight-connectivity">founded</a> the 'Seamless Alliance' during the Mobile World Congress (MWC 2018) along with OneWeb, Airbus, Delta and Sprint to give flight passengers access to the internet. In the past, foreign players like Qatar Airways and Lufthansa — that already provide in-flight Wi-Fi when flying over other regions — have requested the same from the Indian government. Even local airlines like SpiceJet, IndiGo, and Vistara have expressed the importance of having the option to provide onboard Wi-Fi. TRAI's <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india-just-allowed-in-flight-connectivity-within-its-airspace/articleshow/63927632.cms">recommendation</a> is that a separate category of licenses called 'in-flight connectivity providers' should be created. Aside from airplanes, ships would be eligible to apply as well. The token license fee would be ₹1, applicable to anyone who wants to operate 3,000 meters above sea level. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india-just-allowed-in-flight-connectivity-within-its-airspace/articleshow/63927632.cms">India just allowed in-flight connectivity within its airspace</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/Youll-be-able-to-use-internet-satellite-phones-on-flights-soon/articleshow/59697925.cms">You'll be able to use internet, satellite phones on flights soon</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/air-india-in-talks-with-global-agencies-to-have-in-flight-wifi-for-its-international-flights/articleshow/37089371.cms">Air India In Talks With Global Agencies To Have In-flight Wifi For Its International Flights</a>

Indian flights will have WiFi soon — leaving only North Korea behind

Soon, you’ll be able to use internet on flights as <keyword id="120120" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bharat-Sanchar-Nigam">Bharat Sanchar Nigam</keyword> (<keyword id="30351" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="BSNL">BSNL</keyword>) and International Mobile Satellite Organisation (<keyword id="220807" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Inmarsat">Inmarsat</keyword>) are going to enable this within a year. "In about a year's time, we will open satellite phone services to private companies and persons, as well as offer Internet facility on flights and ships,” BSNL chairman Anupam Shrivastava told ET. Moreover, onboard passengers will get data via a Wi-Fi router, which will become possible through antennas, linking it to the nearest satellite. “The bandwidth would be provided as per the tariff rolled out after necessary regulatory approvals,” Shrivastava told ET. BSNL has already received the go ahead from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the Department of Telecommunications (DoT). The satellite phones, as part of this shift, would come to the telco soon and have new SIM numbers. The first phase would involve the transition, which is expected to conclude by August end, followed by the stepping up of the network's broadband capacity and finally extending this capacity to aircraft and ships, Shrivastava said.

You’ll be able to use internet, satellite phones on flights soon

State-run BSNL is planning to extend <keyword id="6358065" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Satellite">satellite</keyword> phone services for all citizens in two years that can work at any corner of the country and remain immune to breakdown of mobile services during natural calamities, according. "We have applied to International Maritime Organisation. It will take some time to complete the process. In 18-24 months, we will be in a position to open satellite phones service for citizens in a phased manner," BSNL chairman and managing director <keyword id="2216779" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Anupam-Shrivastava">Anupam Shrivastava</keyword> told PTI. Satellite phones will able to work in any part of the country, even inside flights and ships, as they depend on signals directly from satellites located about 35,700 kms above the earth. Traditional mobile networks cover around 25-30 kms around towers and can transmit signals to phones placed equal to or below the height of the tower. BSNL has started satellite phone service using INMARSAT service which will be initially offered to government agencies and later extended to citizens in a phased manner. The service will cover areas where no networks are present and be provided by INMARSAT which has 14 satellites. Agencies handling disasters, state police, railways, Border Security Force and other government agencies will be given the phones in the first phase. "The number of satellite phone connections in India is very little but once we open it for citizens, the whole dynamics in the market will change. The volumes will bring down the cost of service. We are charging only Re 1 over the cost that satellite firm will bill to us," <keyword id="713" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Shrivastava">Shrivastava</keyword> said. Call rates on satellite phones are expected to be in the range of Rs 30-35 in the first phase when there are only about 4,600 connections in the country. "Satellite phones also cost Rs 40,000 and more. All the satellite phones are imported at present. Once we open it for citizens, the volumes will drive down the cost of calls as well as handset. Even, huge volume can attract satellite phone manufacturers to set-up their unit in India. We expect it to create a new ecosystem of satellite services in the country," Shrivastava said. Satellite phones in India are presently provided by <keyword id="6370462" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Tata-Communications">Tata Communications</keyword>, which inherited the licence from Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited (now Tata <keyword id="4584578" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="communications-ltd">Communications Ltd</keyword>). The services of TCL will be phased out by June 30, 2017 and all the connections will be transferred to BSNL. There are 1,532 authorised satellite phone connections that can operate within the country and a majority of them are used by security forces. TCL has also issued 4,143 permits to maritime community for use of such phones at ships. There have been security concerns on use of satellite phones in India. Telecom regulator <keyword id="6356988" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="TRAI">Trai</keyword> has said there is a possibility that communication through such phones can be monitored by foreign agencies as their gateways are located outside India, it added. Defence forces did not opt for satellite phones from the foreign operators because of security and espionage concerns. Other security agencies have been demanding for a long time for establishment of a new gateway in the country which can support new generation handsets for land mobile connections. Shrivastava said that now satellite phone gateway has been set-up in India with legal interception and monitoring system (LIMS). "BSNL has set-up gateway with INMARSAT to address security concerns among government agencies. Now, there are no more issued related to security. We will start providing satellite services once our registration process is complete and necessary approvals are in place," Shrivastava said.

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Indian flights will have WiFi soon — leaving only North Korea behind

Prabhjote Gill

You’ll be able to use internet, satellite phones on flights soon

BI India Bureau

India to have its satellite phones soon

BI India Bureau

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