en.Wedoany.com Reported - New Delhi: State-owned telecom company Bharat Sanchar Nigam (BSNL) has initiated preliminary contact with Elon Musk's Starlink, with both parties exploring the possibility of cooperation in satellite backhaul transmission and enterprise services.
Sources familiar with the matter told ETTelecom that senior executives from both sides recently discussed strategies for wireless backhaul transmission and services targeting large enterprise customers. However, no agreement has been reached yet, and further negotiations are pending. BSNL is leveraging its 4G network, which is upgradable to 5G, to deliver digital services to rural areas, contributing to the goal of increasing tele-density. Currently, rural tele-density in India stands at approximately 60%, and the Department of Telecommunications has identified nearly 30,000 unconnected villages. BSNL is deploying indigenous next-generation network technology and advancing the BharatNet project to lay optical fiber to over 625,000 villages, covering multiple states in the Northeast.
Former BSNL Chairman Anupam Shrivastava stated that Starlink could help provide high-speed internet in areas where fiber optic cable deployment is difficult and would be beneficial for emergency communications during natural disasters. He believes satellite backhaul transmission is a practical way to introduce 4G and 5G to rural areas. Utilizing Starlink satellites could enable BSNL to connect remote base stations within weeks, accelerating service coverage. Starlink, operated by SpaceX, provides broadband services in 150 countries. Due to security clearances, it has not yet received full approval in India but has been authorized to use Ku and Ka band frequencies. Observers note that partnering with BSNL could help Starlink comply with Indian security regulations. BSNL's enterprise business contributes nearly 10% of its revenue, encompassing managed network services, data centers, and other offerings, and has recently adopted a zero-capital expenditure model.
Shrivastava believes that since Starlink lacks a retail network in India, partnering with BSNL would allow it to leverage BSNL's nationwide distribution channels for rapid expansion. It could also pursue a virtual network operator route, helping BSNL secure business from government departments and state-owned enterprises. BSNL previously partnered with Inmarsat in 2021 to provide mobile broadband services and established a satellite gateway in Ghaziabad. Earlier this year, Viasat also initiated a collaboration with BSNL to support the upgrade of the Indian Navy's satellite communications.
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