Apple's satellite communications partner Globalstar has applied for regulatory approvals to launch its services in India, entering the satcom market that includes Elon Musk's Starlink, Bharti-backed Eutelsat OneWeb, Amazon's Project Kuiper, and Reliance Jio's Orbit Connect.
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Globalstar Seeks Indian Regulatory Approval
The US-based low-earth orbit (LEO) satellite operator has applied to the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) seeking authorisation to begin operations, ETTelecom reported, citing people familiar with the matter. The company is also expected to apply for a Global Mobile Personal Communications by Satellite (GMPCS) licence from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) shortly.
Test Spectrum Granted
Sources reportedly added that Globalstar has already obtained test spectrum from the DoT to demonstrate satellite-based disaster management use cases. However, it has not yet sought a commercial licence such as GMPCS or VSAT. The DoT allocates test spectrum for limited periods on a non-commercial, non-interference, and non-protection basis.
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Apple's Emergency SOS Partner
Currently, Globalstar provides direct-to-cell satellite services for Apple iPhone users and supports various industrial applications. Apple partnered with the firm in 2022 to offer emergency SOS via satellite, later expanding support to satellite messaging across several countries including the US, Canada, UK, Australia, and select European markets. These services are available on iPhone 14 and later models but are not yet offered in India.
In its August 2024 submission to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), Globalstar expressed interest in setting up a wholly owned Indian subsidiary and a land earth station gateway—both prerequisites for foreign satellite operators to deliver commercial services locally.
India's Satcom Market
Satellite firms require both a GMPCS licence and IN-SPACe authorisation to operate commercially in India. So far, only Eutelsat OneWeb and Orbit Connect India—a joint venture between Jio Platforms and Luxembourg-based SES—have secured both.
Starlink and Project Kuiper are yet to receive either approval, though Starlink has announced partnerships with both Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio, and intends to offer direct-to-device services once it secures regulatory clearance.
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The report quoted industry experts as saying that Globalstar's entry could pave the way for satellite-based messaging services on iPhones in India, particularly in remote and underserved areas, as direct-to-cell satellite technology matures and begins to complement terrestrial networks.
