Surf the net while flying in India: BSNL gets licence for in-flight connectivity

NEW DELHI: After a long wait, you will soon be able to surf the net while flying in and over Indian airspace. Inmarsat, among the top global mobile satellite communications players, has announced that its Indian telecom partner BSNL has received an “in-flight and maritime connectivity” (IFMC) license from the department of telecommunications (DoT).

“The issuing of the license marks a major step for Inmarsat’s services in the Indian connectivity market. BSNL is now approved to offer IFMC services, which will include Inmarsat’s Global Xpress (Ka-band) and SwiftBroadband and FleetBroadband (L-band) services, to Indian airlines operating within and outside India, as well as foreign airlines transiting through Indian airspace, and shipping companies operating within Indian waters. Inmarsat and BSNL are expected to commence services later this year once the ground infrastructure and associated approvals are in place,” Inmarsat said in a statement.

Till date, flight to, from, over and within India are not able to provide onboard Wi-Fi as the same was not permitted in Indian airspace. While foreign airlines like Lufthansa and Qatar Airways said they want to provide this service here, Indian airlines like SpiceJet have also expressed a desire to provide onboard Wi-Fi.

Inmarsat owns and operates the GX Aviation service, which enables passengers to browse the internet, stream videos, check social media during flights, with connectivity comparable to mobile broadband services on the ground.

GX Aviation is already being used by airlines like Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, Lufthansa and Air New Zealand. BNSL and Inmarsat’s GX Aviation Value Added Resellers (VARs) will be able to offer the world-leading in-flight Wi-Fi experience to domestic customers in India. The license will also benefit foreign airlines transiting through Indian airspace and flying to and from Indian airport hubs.

BSNL CMD Anupam Shrivastava said: “BSNL and Inmarsat have worked together closely for decades and this announcement further strengthens our relationship, expanding our partnership from GSPS to GX services. This an exciting step, particularly for India’s fast-growing aviation sector. Soon airlines and their passengers will be able to reap the benefits of world-leading, seamless, high-speed connectivity.”

Inmarsat India MD Gautam Sharma said: “This issuing of this license is a key milestone in bringing reliable, high-speed connectivity services to India’s maritime and aviation industries and customers. India is one of the fastest-growing markets in the world for air travel, with annual passenger numbers consistently increasing. The provision of Inmarsat’s next-generation GX Aviation services will be a game-changer for both Indian and foreign airlines operating in the region.”