Mukesh Ambani and Sunil Mittal are working on a new technology, set to change mobile calling in India, it is called…

Rajan Bharti Mittal, Vice Chairman of Bharti Enterprises said that its satellite telecom service is ready for rollout in India, and they were now waiting for the centre's greenlight.

In the recent few months, satellite connectivity on smartphones has gained wide attention. After it was first introduced by Apple with the iPhone 14 in 2022, other brands have also explored the technology and have even achieved success. As per the new feature, the technology will allow users to send SOS messages to emergency services in areas without cellular coverage. While companies like Google and Samsung have adopted it, satellite connectivity remains limited to select regions and models. Let’s explore how it works.

Airtel’s plan for satellite connectivity on smartphones

Rajan Bharti Mittal, Vice Chairman of Bharti Enterprises said that its satellite telecom service is ready for rollout in India, and they were now waiting for the centre’s greenlight.

“In India, we are waiting for, as you know, the spectrum allocation to be done. Both our stations are ready, one in Gujarat and one in Tamil Nadu. The base stations are ready. So as soon as we get permission, we will be launching in India as well,” Rajan Bharti Mittal told news agency ANI in an interview with the World Economic Forum.

Bharti Enterprises launches 635 satellites

Bharti Enterprises has already launched 635 satellites and is providing services in other parts of the world, Mittal added.

On the debate around spectrum allocation through administrative process or through auction, he reiterated Bharti Airtel’s stance, stating satellite companies should be required to pay licensing fees and acquire spectrum through auctions, just as traditional telecom operators do.

Announcement from Akash Ambani-led Reliance Jio

The Akash Ambani-led Reliance Jio had also pitched for satellite companies to pay license fee and buy spectrum for their telecom services just like legacy telecom companies do.

Elon Musk’s Starlink and global peers like Amazon’s Project Kuiper wants an administrative allocation of spectrum for satellite services. On the pricing front for such satellite-based telecom services, he said Satcom will be able to deliver at far-flung areas at a “decent price”, as per a report by news agency ANI.

Bharti Airtel reports 121 pc net profit growth in Q3

Telecom major Bharti Airtel on Thursday reported a significant rise in its net profit for the third quarter (Q3 FY25) at Rs 14,781 crore, driven primarily by exceptional items from the consolidation of Indus Towers. However, after adjusting for exceptional items, the company’s profit after tax (PAT) stood at Rs 5,514 crore with a 121 per cent increase compared to Rs 2,442 crore in the year-ago period (Q3 FY24).
The company’s revenue from operations grew by 19 per cent year-on-year (YoY) to Rs 45,129 crore due to strong performance in India and steady growth in Africa.

(With inputs from agencies)