Parliament Question: Impact of high-speed internet connectivity

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3059 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19TH MARCH, 2026 IMPACT OF HIGH-SPEED INTERNET CONNECTIVITY 3059 SHRI SANJAY KUMAR JHA: Will the Minister of Communications be pleased to state: (a) whether it is a fact that a global company offering high-speed internet connectivity to remote locations using low-orbit satellites is set to enter the India’s telecommunication markets; (b) if so, whether it is likely to raise or lower the overall cost of internet connectivity from its current levels; and (c) the impact thereof on India’s rural consumers? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT (DR. PEMMASANI CHANDRA SEKHAR) (a) to (c) Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has granted Unified License (UL) with Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite (GMPCS) Service authorization to three companies, namely OneWeb India Communications Private Limited, JIO Satellite Communications Limited, and Starlink Satellite Communications Private Limited, to provide, inter alia, satellite-based internet services in the country, including connectivity to remote locations. The above three companies have intimated that they will provide the services through Low Earth Orbit (LEO)/Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) satellite constellations. It is further envisaged that with more licensees for providing satellite-based internet services, enhanced competition in this segment will lead to affordable services. Satellite-based communication services can provide connectivity in rural, remote, underserved and unserved areas, which are otherwise difficult to be covered through terrestrial media such as optical fiber, microwave, etc. This will support in bridging the digital divide and promoting access to digital services. ***** 1