Apple Partner Globalstar Files For India Satcom Entry: Report

Apple’s satellite communication (satcom) partner Globalstar has reportedly filed its application with the Centre’s nodal agency Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) to enter the country.

Globalstar is the newest player eyeing India’s space communication market after Elon Musk’s Starlink, EutelSat OneWeb, Amazon Kuiper and Reliance Jio.

An ET report, citing people privy to the development, said that the company is also looking to apply for a GMPCS (global mobile personal communications by satellite services) licence shortly with the Department of Telecommunications (DoT).

GMPCS licence is a permit given by a government, enabling a company to operate a satellite communication network providing mobile voice, data, and messaging services to users. 

Further, Globalstar has secured test spectrum from DoT for demonstrating disaster management use cases, though the company is yet to apply for a commercial licence such as GMPCS or VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal), sources told ET.

Inc42 has reached out to Globalstar for comments on the development. The story will be updated based on the response. 

In August last year it was reported that Globalstar is planning to apply for a licence to offer satcom services in India.

“Globalstar is keen on establishing a wholly owned subsidiary in India for which we propose to apply for a GMPCS authorisation… We expect that no new or onerous requirements will be imposed upon (the) GMPCS authorised entity, as a result of introducing a new satellite earth station gateway license…,” the company said in a submission with the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) last year. 

The company also called India the single largest market that Globalstar has been previously unable to enter. However, the company publicly underscored its plans to enter India for the first time in August 2024. 

India will likely launch satellite internet services soon as the TRAI is reportedly in the final leg to release a recommendations framework for the service. The satellite internet service aims to provide high-speed internet access to remote areas and maritime regions, where traditional infrastructure is challenging to deploy.

It was reported last month that the TRAI is giving the finishing touches to a set of recommendations on the pricing and use of satellite communications.  

Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Jio Infocomm, Sunil Bharti Mittal’s Bharti Airtel and Elon Musk’s Starlink are awaiting the framework to debut their satellite services. Notably, Starlink is yet to get the GMPCS licence.