India is edging closer to the launch of satellite internet services, with eager users awaiting final government approvals. Companies such as Starlink and OneWeb have completed their groundwork and are now awaiting the government’s decision on spectrum allocation rules. Recent regulatory moves indicate progress toward this much-anticipated rollout. As per a report by ET Telecom, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has introduced fresh regulations mandating in-country testing and certification for satellite equipment, including gateways and user terminals.
Effective from the end of August, only certified satellite communication equipment will be permitted for import and usage by service providers. This marks the first instance where such testing and certification have been made compulsory.
On February 25, the DoT outlined new conformity assessment standards for 14 different categories of telecom equipment, including non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) satellite devices such as user terminals and integrated gateways. The directive is scheduled to come into force 180 days from its notification date.
Once the enforcement begins in late August, it will be mandatory for all telecom equipment within the specified categories to undergo testing and certification under the guidelines established by the Telecommunication Engineering Centre. No individual or company will be allowed to import, sell, distribute, or operate these devices unless they meet the required standards.
The mandatory testing and certification program for telecom hardware, initially launched in 2019, aims to ensure that new equipment does not interfere with existing network operations while complying with both national and international regulatory frameworks.
This certification scheme has been implemented in multiple phases, with the latest directive covering phase 5, which specifically includes satellite communication technology.
In a related development, the Indian government is reportedly considering allowing foreign vendors to participate in the bidding process for BSNL’s 5G network equipment supply. A budget of $2 billion has been earmarked for acquiring the necessary technology, and the deployment of 5G networks is expected to accelerate in the near future.
