Iridium Cries Foul on BSNL-INMASAT Satellite Phone Deal

India’s satellite phone market gets a new interested party to make this space competitive. Iridium, American satphone company is looking for an entry but accuses government policies to prevent the space competitive.

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Presently only state-owned operator BSNL is offering services with INMARSAT. BSNL received a LoI from the DoT on July 9 and signed a principle agreement with INMARSAT on September 2. BSNL now can offer satellite based voice & IP broadband services with proper guidelines from defence ministry.

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BSNL-INMASAT

Few days backs country’s tourism ministry has also expressed their view on easy permission for satphone use among adventure tourists as white zone areas like in Himalayas & north-east satphone can save hundreds of distressed tourists.

Iridium finds the deal between BSNL & INMARSAT very anti-competitive move as they did not get any chance to bid for this single slot.

India restricts the use of satphones on the concern for security as unlike traditional mobile networks satphones are bypassing security agencies’ radar. Earlier VSNL was offering services with this London-based operator, but as Tata bought VSNL, the service was terminated.

Also Read: BSNL to Tie up with Sistema to use GLONASS Satellite Navigation

In November Bharti Airtel’s African arm has made a deal with UAE headquartered Thuraya to launch its services in 12 countries of African continent. Etisalat controlled Thuraya is a very popular satphone services in middle east, but it is not allowed in India.