**Executive Summary**
This document is a response to Starred Question No. 176 in the Lok Sabha, to be answered on February 11th, 2026, regarding Global Satellite Phone Service (GSPS). The Minister of Communications provides information on the sale of GSPS by BSNL, government guidelines, tariff regulations, and security measures related to GSPS. A statement detailing the answers is laid on the Table of the House.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Availability and Services:**
* BSNL provides Voice Call and SMS services through GSPS to the general public and private enterprises, effective January 1, 2018.
* **Guidelines and Security:**
* The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) issued instructions in 2017 mandating BSNL to complete the standard Customer Acquisition Process for mobile connections.
* BSNL must obtain details such as place, period, and purpose of use from GSPS subscribers.
* GSPS inherently provides secure communication via encrypted information transfer.
* **Tariff Plans:**
* BSNL provides only voice and SMS services via GSPS, with tariff plan details in Annexure-I.
* The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) regulates tariffs for telecommunication services.
* Tariffs are under forbearance, except for specific services.
* A ‘Nil’ tariff has been prescribed for Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) services to promote financial inclusion.
* **Tariff Plan Details (Annexure-I):**
* Provides details on Post-paid and Pre-paid plans for government and commercial customers
* Fixed monthly charges and free talk time (minutes) or SMS details for each plan.
* Details on additional Call/SMS charges applicable after free talk time and SMS are over.
* Denominations for additional recharges/top-ups for pre-paid plans.
* All charges are excluding GST.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: General Public and Private Enterprises**
* **Impact**: Access to GSPS services for voice and SMS communication.
* **Action Required**: Adhere to customer acquisition process requirements and provide necessary usage details to BSNL. Pay applicable tariffs for using GSPS services.
**Stakeholder: BSNL**
* **Impact**: Required to adhere to DoT instructions and complete the Customer Acquisition Process for GSPS subscribers.
* **Action Required**: Collect necessary subscriber details, comply with tariff regulations, and provide GSPS services per established guidelines.
**Stakeholder: Government/DoT**
* **Impact**: Responsible for overseeing and regulating GSPS operations, including security measures.
* **Action Required**: Ensure BSNL adheres to guidelines and security protocols, and monitor the effectiveness of tariff regulations.
**Stakeholder: Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI)**
* **Impact**: To regulate tariff of telecommunication services in India
* **Action Required**: Continue to regulate the tariffs for telecommunication services under the existing provisions.
Key Entities Referenced
Global Satellite Phone Service (GSPS): The central service being addressed in the Lok Sabha question, concerning its availability, guidelines, pricing, and security measures.
BSNL: The telecom operator responsible for providing and regulating the Global Satellite Phone Service (GSPS).
Department of Telecommunications: The governing ministry issuing directives regarding GSPS.
Lok Sabha: The location where the starred question regarding GSPS was raised.
Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI): Independent authority for regulation of tariff for telecommunication services in India, including tariffs for telecommunication service.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS
DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 176
TO BE ANSWERED ON 11TH FEBRUARY, 2026
GLOBAL SATELLITE PHONE SERVICE (GSPS)
*176. SHRI M K RAGHAVAN:
Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:
(a) whether the BSNL started sale of Global Satellite Phone Service (GSPS) to the general public
and private enterprises and if so, the details thereof including the date of rollout and the categories of
services offered;
(b) whether the Government has prescribed any guidelines or eligibility criteria for citizens and
private organisations to avail the GSPS services and if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the charges for GSPS devices and call/data usage have been finalised by BSNL and
if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether the Government plans to regulate the tariff to ensure affordability and if so, the
details thereof; and
(e) whether the Government has taken any measures to ensure secure communication and
prevent misuse of GSPS by unauthorised users and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH EASTERN
REGION
(SHRI JYOTIRADITYA M. SCINDIA)
(a) to (e) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
1STATEMENT TO BE LAID ON THE TABLE OF LOK SABHA IN RESPECT OF PARTS
(a) to (e) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.176 FOR 11TH FEBRUARY, 2026
REGARDING “GLOBAL SATELLITE PHONE SERVICE (GSPS).”
(a) BSNL provides Voice Call and SMS services through Global Satellite Phone Service (GSPS)
to General Public and Private Enterprises w.e.f. 01.01.2018.
(b) & (e) DoT issued the instructions vide letter dated 12.06.2017 in respect of provision of
Satellite based services, which inter-alia mandated that BSNL is required to complete the Customer
Acquisition Process prescribed for mobile connections, as amended from time to time. BSNL shall
also obtain from the subscriber the details such as place of use, period of use and the purpose for
which Satellite handset shall be used. Additionally, the GSPS service is inherently a secure
communication as information is transferred in encrypted form.
(c) BSNL provides only voice and SMS services through GSPS. The details of Tariff Plan for
GSPS are attached as Annexure-I.
(d) Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is an independent authority for regulation of
tariff for telecommunication services in India .As per the extant regulatory tariff provisions, tariff
for telecommunication service is under forbearance except for services such as National Roaming,
Rural Fixed Line Services, mobile number portability charges and leased circuits .‘Nil ’tariff has
been prescribed for Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) services to promote financial
inclusion etc.among rural unbanked feature phone users .
2Annexure-I
Annexure-I of Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 176 for 11.02.2026
Tariff Plan for Global Satellite Phone Services (w.e.f. 01.01.2026)
A. Post-paid Plans
Government Commercial
Plan G1 Plan G2 Plan C1
1 Fixed Monthly Charges (₹) 3,500 5,835 11,670
2 Free Talk Time (in minutes) or SMS 16 30 60
B. Pre-Paid Plans
Government Commercial
Plan G1 Plan GA Plan C1 Plan CA
(Monthly) (Annual) (Monthly) (Annual)
1 Plan charges (₹) 3,500 38,500 5,835 64,185
2 Free Talk Time (in
20 240 30 360
minutes) or SMS
C. After the free talk time and SMS are over than additional Call/SMS charges are required
to be paid by the subscribers at the rate of
₹ 18 /min/SMS for Government customers.
₹ 25 /min/SMS for Commercial customers.
D. Additional Recharges/Top-ups for pre-paid plans are available in denominations of (₹)
200/500/1000/5000/10000.
*All charges above are excluding GST
****
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