Latest news with #EutelsatOneWeb
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Jyotiraditya Scindia meets SpaceX president, calls satcom India's next connectivity frontier
Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia met with SpaceX officials, including Gwynne Shotwell, to explore collaboration opportunities in satellite communications. Starlink, having received a satcom license, aims to support India's digital ambitions. The company awaits further approvals and spectrum allocation to begin offering broadband-from-space services, joining Eutelsat OneWeb and Reliance Jio-SES in the growing satcom market. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Terming satcom as India's next frontier in connectivity, Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Tuesday met top officials at Elon Musk-owned SpaceX to discuss opportunities for collaboration to power the country's digital ambitions through transformative satellite technologies Starlink , which has been granted a satcom licence by the government, called it a great start to the journey.'Had a productive meeting with Ms. @Gwynne_Shotwell, President & COO of @SpaceX, on India's next frontier in connectivity,' Scindia said on social networking site said they delved into opportunities for collaboration in satellite communications to power Digital India 's soaring ambitions and empower every citizen across the country.'…satellite technologies are not just relevant, they're transformative. Ms. Shotwell appreciated the licence granted to @Starlink, calling it a great start to the journey,' Scindia is the satcom brand of Elon Musk-owned this month, Starlink became the latest entrant in the country's nascent but growing satcom market. The US major has become the third player to get a Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite (GMPCS) permit, needed to offer commercial broadband-from-space services. Bharti Group-backed Eutelsat OneWeb and the Reliance Jio-SES satcom joint venture are the first US company now also needs to get approval from space regulator Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe) to launch services. With the company having provided all the details needed for clearance, the approval is expected Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is likely to issue trial spectrum to the company in the coming days. Once the spectrum is allocated, Starlink must demonstrate all compliances, including those related to security conditions, to the firm Amazon Kuiper is the only other company currently awaiting approval for a satcom permit. The Jeff Bezos-owned company has written to DoT seeking expedited approval.
Broadcast Pro
10-06-2025
- Business
- Broadcast Pro
Astroscale completes CDR for ELSA-M In-Orbit debris removal mission
This demonstration includes docking, de-orbiting, and releasing a Eutelsat OneWeb client spacecraft managed through Astroscales in-house satellite operations facility. Astroscale has completed the Critical Design Review (CDR) for its upcoming ELSA-M (End-of-Life Services by Astroscale-Multiple) In-Orbit Demonstration (IOD) spacecraft, marking a major milestone in the development of what is set to become the worlds first commercial end-of-life servicing mission for satellites prepared for docking and removal. The mission, scheduled to launch in 2026, will demonstrate cutting-edge technologies aimed at addressing the growing challenge of orbital debris. Designed, built, and operated by Astroscale UK at its Harwell Campus in Oxfordshire, ELSA-M will showcase advanced Rendezvous Proximity Operations (RPO) capabilities. The CDR milestone was achieved following a comprehensive technical evaluation by teams from the European Space Agency (ESA) and satellite operator Eutelsat, encompassing all aspects of engineering, programme management, and product assurance. This achievement confirms the UKs leadership in Active Debris Removal (ADR) and advances its role in the fast-growing field of In-Orbit Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing (ISAM). The ELSA-M mission is a collaborative effort funded primarily through Astroscales private investment, with co-funding support from the UK Space Agency via ESA and Eutelsat under the Sunrise Partnership Project. The initiative falls within ESAs Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES) programme, designed to develop next-generation satellite communications technologies. Nick Shave, Managing Director, Astroscale UK, said: 'Completing the Critical Design Review for ELSA-M is both a major step for the mission itself and also a major achievement for the UK ISAM industry. The mission is a true partnership between Astroscale UK, the UK Space Agency, ESA and Eutelsat with many industrial partners in the Astroscale ISAM supply chain across all regions of the UK. With the ever-growing number of satellites in Earths orbit, the robust RPO and spacecraft capture capability provided by ELSA-M will revolutionise the delivery of repeatable ADR and other ISAM services as part of a future circular space economy.' Joshua King, Telecommunications Investment Lead at the UK Space Agency, added: 'We are excited to support Astroscale UKs pioneering ELSA-M mission, which represents a significant leap forward in satellite servicing and orbital sustainability. This milestone not only underscores the UKs leadership in ADR but also highlights our commitment to providing new technologies and capabilities to support satellite communications. The successful completion of the Critical Design Review is a testament to the exceptional collaboration between Astroscale, ESA, and Eutelsat within the Sunrise Partnership, and we look forward to the successful launch next year.' Laurent Jaffart, Director of Connectivity and Secure Communications at ESA, stated: 'Space is a common good, like the oceans, and we need to treat it responsibly. ESA welcomed Astroscales active engagement and signature of ESAs Zero Debris Charter in June 2024, which contains high-level guiding principles and specific jointly defined targets to achieve zero debris by 2030. We are pleased to be supporting Astroscale to demonstrate the commercial viability of space debris removal, building on state-of-the-art technologies to create new missions that attract talent and investment. ESA fosters European and Canadian innovation in the highly competitive global satellite market.' Guillaume Scottez, Senior Director for Innovation at Eutelsat Group, commented: 'Astroscales successful CDR marks a positive progression for our joint efforts to support, test, and validate innovative in-orbit servicing technologies, crucial for the long-term preservation of space as a valuable natural resource. With this milestone, we look forward to our continued collaboration with ESA, the UK Space Agency, and Astroscale to advance our mission.' ELSA-M builds on the success of Astroscales 2021 ELSA-d mission, which demonstrated critical technologies such as magnetic capture and controlled close-approach operations. With the CDR now complete, ELSA-M moves into the next phase involving spacecraft assembly, integration, testing, launch preparations, and a series of in-orbit demonstrations. These will include docking with, de-orbiting, and releasing a Eutelsat OneWeb client satellite, all managed through Astroscales own satellite operations center.
Time of India
10-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
How the Satcom permit may force Elon Musk's Starlink to do in India what it has been refusing to do so far: Listen to ...
Elon Musk 's Starlink recently received a licence from the telecom department for providing satellite internet services (Satcom) in India. The licence is a key milestone that will take it closer towards launching commercial operations in the country. With this, Starlink becomes the third company after Eutelsat OneWeb and Jio Satellite Communications to get a licence from the Department of Telecommunications ( DoT ) to provide satellite internet services in the country. A fourth applicant, Amazon's Kuiper is still waiting for approvals. Starlink's satcom permit from the Indian government may now force the company to do what it had not been doing so far per se, which is cooperate with security agencies on matters related to India's national security. As a report in Economic Times says, the licence will make it mandatory for Starlink to share information, including details of users or owners of satellite kits seized in the country, particularly in the North-East region in the past few months, information that the US company was unwilling to share earlier. When Startlink said no to India's security agencies India's security agencies have reportedly pointed out the misuse of Starlink devices in Indian territory, especially in the border areas, officials said. However, the Elon Musk-owned company has been reluctant to provide details, directing agencies to use US law enforcement or international protocols. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Spiele kostenlos in deinem Browser - Kein Download oder Installation erforderlich! Taonga Farm Jetzt spielen Undo In March this year, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) reportedly asked the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to investigate, as Starlink's non-cooperation raised concerns. The DoT has not yet submitted its report, but officials note that with the satcom license, Starlink must comply or risk a show cause notice and potential license revocation. Experts have 'security warning' on Satcom services Experts warn that Starlink services in Bhutan and Bangladesh could lead to smuggled terminals in India due to challenges in geofencing international borders. Security remains a priority, and none of the three satcom licensees -- Starlink, Bharti-backed Eutelsat OneWeb, and Reliance Jio-SES -- have so far received security clearances, delaying commercial operations. While OneWeb and Jio-SES have trial spectrum and have conducted security demonstrations, Starlink, which received its Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite permit last week, has not yet been allocated trial airwaves. OneWeb and Jio-SES have had Satcom permits and IN-SPACe approval for over two years, while Starlink awaits regulatory clearance. AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
The Print
06-06-2025
- Business
- The Print
Starlink gets licence to start India services
Starlink is the third company after Eutelsat OneWeb and Jio Satellite Communications to get a licence from the Department of Telecommunications to provide satellite internet services in the country. New Delhi, Jun 6 (PTI) Elon Musk's Starlink has received a licence from the telecom department for providing satellite internet services in India, a key milestone that will take it closer towards launching commercial operations in the country. DoT sources confirmed on Friday that Starlink has indeed received the licence, and said the company will be granted trial spectrum in 15-20 days of applying for it. Starlink will now have to comply with the security norms such as providing access for lawful interception, before starting services. The licence came hours after a huge public spat between Musk and US President Donald Trump. The falling-out between the world's richest man and the world's most powerful person began when Musk, who left his role as head of the Department of Government Efficiency a week ago, denounced Trump's sweeping tax-cut and spending bill. On Thursday, it erupted in the verbal duel after Trump criticised Musk in the Oval Office. Musk responded saying 'Trump would have lost' without his help, prompting the US President to end US contracts. The licence from DoT came nearly a month after the Starlink was issued a letter of intent (LoI) by the telecom department. The companies that have received the licence would, however, have to a wait a tad longer for commercial satcom spectrum as the Trai just recently sent its recommendations on pricing, and terms and conditions, to the government for its consideration. The players will be able to start their services after the allocation of radio wave frequencies. Typically, even before the commercial spectrum, the trial spectrum is required to test, and verify the systems and processes on security parameters to demonstrate that all norms and requirements, are being complied with. The status of the Starlink's final nod from the Indian space regulator, In-SPACe could not be immediately ascertained. Starlink is a satellite internet service developed by SpaceX — the American aerospace manufacturer and space transportation company founded in 2002 by the world's richest man Musk. It provides high-speed, low-latency broadband internet worldwide using satellite technology and is aptly described by some as broadband beamed from the skies. Unlike conventional satellite services that rely on distant geostationary satellites, Starlink utilises the world's largest low Earth orbit or LEO constellation (550 km above Earth). This constellation of LEO satellites (7,000 now but eventually set to grow to over 40,000) and its mesh delivers broadband internet capable of supporting streaming, online gaming, and video calls. Starlink, which had been vying for an India licence for some time now, recently signed pacts with Ambani's Reliance Jio and Mittal's Bharti Airtel, which together control more than 70 per cent of the country's telecom market, to bring the US satellite internet giant's services to India. The nod for the satcom offering — known for its resilience in harsh conditions and conflict zones — coincides with escalation of Donald Trump-Elon Musk feud in the US. Early last month, the government had issued stringent security norms mandating legal interception of satellite communication services and barred companies from linking connection of users in any form with any terminal or facility located outside the country's border as well as processing of their data overseas. The tighter security rules also mandate service providers to indigenise at least 20 per cent of their ground segment of the satellite network within years of their establishment in the country. The satcom service licence holders will require security clearances for specific gateway and hub locations in India and compliance to monitoring, interception facilities and equipment requirements. India's rules mandate satcom firms to demonstrate system capabilities with respect to security aspects, including monitoring, to the Department of Telecom (DoT) or its authorised representatives before starting operations in India. It is pertinent to mention that Telecom regulator TRAI last month recommended that satellite communication companies like Starlink pay 4 per cent of their adjusted gross revenue (AGR) as spectrum charges to the government — a rate steeper than what these firms had been lobbying for. Operators offering satellite-based broadband internet services in urban areas would have to shell out an additional Rs 500 per subscribers annually, TRAI recommended. No additional levy would be applicable for services in rural areas. COAI, whose members include Reliance Jio and Airtel, recently approached the telecom department to raise concerns over TRAI recommendations on the satcom spectrum. The industry body argued that 'incorrect assumptions' have led to unjustifiably low spectrum charges for satellite services relative to terrestrial networks — a claim strongly rejected by Trai, which has ruled out any review of recommendations at this stage, based on industry body COAI's charges. PTI MBI TRB This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
The Hindu
06-06-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Elon Musk's Starlink gets licence to start India services amid feud with Trump
Elon Musk's Starlink has received a licence from the telecom department for providing satellite internet services in India, a key milestone that will take it closer towards launching commercial operations in the country. Starlink is the third company after Eutelsat OneWeb and Jio Satellite Communications to get a licence from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to provide satellite internet services in the country. A fourth applicant, Amazon's Kuiper is still waiting for approvals. DoT sources confirmed on Friday (June 6, 2025) that Starlink has indeed received the licence and said the company will be granted trial spectrum in 15-20 days of applying for it. Starlink will now have to comply with the security norms such as providing access for lawful interception, before starting services. The licence came hours after a huge public spat between Mr. Musk and U.S. President Donald Trump. The falling-out between the world's richest man and the world's most powerful person began when Mr. Musk, who left his role as head of the Department of Government Efficiency a week ago, denounced Mr. Trump's sweeping tax-cut and spending bill. On Thursday (June 5, 2025), it erupted in the verbal duel after Mr. Trump criticised Mr. Musk in the Oval Office. Mr. Musk responded, saying, 'Trump would have lost' without his help, prompting the U.S. President to end U.S. contracts. The licence from DoT came nearly a month after the Starlink was issued a letter of intent (LoI) by the telecom department. The companies that have received the licence would, however, have to a wait a tad longer for commercial satcom spectrum as the Trai just recently sent its recommendations on pricing, and terms and conditions, to the government for its consideration. The players will be able to start their services after the allocation of radio wave frequencies. Typically, even before the commercial spectrum, the trial spectrum is required to test, and verify the systems and processes on security parameters to demonstrate that all norms and requirements, are being complied with. The status of the Starlink's final nod from the Indian space regulator, In-SPACe could not be immediately ascertained. Starlink is a satellite internet service developed by SpaceX — the American aerospace manufacturer and space transportation company founded in 2002 by the world's richest man Musk. It provides high-speed, low-latency broadband internet worldwide using satellite technology and is aptly described by some as broadband beamed from the skies. Unlike conventional satellite services that rely on distant geostationary satellites, Starlink utilises the world's largest low Earth orbit or LEO constellation (550 km above Earth). This constellation of LEO satellites (7,000 now but eventually set to grow to over 40,000) and its mesh delivers broadband internet capable of supporting streaming, online gaming, and video calls. Starlink, which had been vying for an Indian licence for some time now, recently signed pacts with Ambani's Reliance Jio and Mittal's Bharti Airtel, which together control more than 70% of the country's telecom market, to bring the U.S. satellite internet giant's services to India. The nod for the satcom offering — known for its resilience in harsh conditions and conflict zones — coincides with escalation of Donald Trump-Elon Musk feud in the U.S. Early last month, the government had issued stringent security norms mandating legal interception of satellite communication services and barred companies from linking connection of users in any form with any terminal or facility located outside the country's border as well as processing of their data overseas. The tighter security rules also mandate service providers to indigenise at least 20% of their ground segments of the satellite network within years of their establishment in the country. The satcom service licence holders will require security clearances for specific gateway and hub locations in India and compliance with monitoring, interception facilities and equipment requirements. India's rules mandate satcom firms to demonstrate system capabilities with respect to security aspects, including monitoring, to the Department of Telecom (DoT) or its authorised representatives before starting operations in India. It is pertinent to mention that telecom regulator TRAI last month recommended that satellite communication companies like Starlink pay 4% of their adjusted gross revenue (AGR) as spectrum charges to the government — a rate steeper than what these firms had been lobbying for. Operators offering satellite-based broadband internet services in urban areas would have to shell out an additional Rs 500 per subscribers annually, TRAI recommended. No additional levy would be applicable for services in rural areas. COAI, whose members include Reliance Jio and Airtel, recently approached the telecom department to raise concerns over TRAI recommendations on the satcom spectrum. The industry body argued that 'incorrect assumptions' have led to unjustifiably low spectrum charges for satellite services relative to terrestrial networks — a claim strongly rejected by Trai, which has ruled out any review of recommendations at this stage, based on industry body COAI's charges.
