High satellite bandwidth charges are likely to play a spoiler in the uptake of in-flight mobile services in India as these would make the facility costlier by 30-50 times at Rs 700-1,000 for a two-hour journey, says an industry official. The chief technology officer of broadband technology firm Hughes India, K Krishna, told PTI that satellite bandwidth charges in India are 7-8 times higher compared to other parts of the world due to the condition that bandwidth can be procured from Indian Space Research Organisation only.
"Passengers are not going to pay 50 times higher price for Internet on a two-hour flight. It has to be extremely affordable and for that to happen open sky mechanism is very much required. You can't be restrictive that only Indian satellite need to provide capacity. Monopolistic policy won't work. The policy will become a duck if these issues are not addressed," Krishna said.
Hughes has applied for a licence for in-flight and maritime connectivity that will allow access to mobile services during air travel and ship voyage within Indian air space and territorial waters. He said that there is adequate satellite capacity available at very affordable cost for in-flight and maritime mobile services to work.
"Investment per plane is not small. It is in the range of USD 500 thousand per plane. None of the Indian airlines or shipping companies will really invest till they see a return, and return has to come from passenger paying for the service.
"The bandwidth will make 70-80% cost of service. At present rates, the current tariff will be in the range of Rs 700-1,000 which a lot of people are not going to afford if they compare it with routine mobile plans," Krishna said.
He said that the global business model of in-flight mobile services works at 10% passengers opting for the service. "An option to increase uptake is that in-flight service charges are included in air ticket but the tickets are already in the range of Rs 4,000-5,000 and adding charges of IFC service will not be a feasible business model for airlines," Krishna said.
The mobile services in planes will be provided once it attains a height of 3,000 meters. It can be provided through both using telecom networks on the ground as well as using satellites.
The Hughes India CTO also said restriction imposed in the licence that an Indian service provider can provide connectivity within Indian airspace and waters would be a disadvantage for both the service provider as well as airlines and shipping firms.
"Indian vessels going outside Indian border should also be provided service by an Indian service provider. Otherwise, we are letting service providers from other countries exploit it. None of the other country surrounding India has the restriction of 12 nautical miles like we have," Krishna said.
He said that as per international norms, Indian service providers could provide service to aircraft and vessels when they are in the international or no-man zone, but Indian telegraph act restricts companies to provide services within national boundaries.
"These are the things which the government needs to relax for healthy uptake of service," Krishna said. The company expects to get a licence for the service early next month and has started a discussion to start service in some of the aircraft, he said.
