Union Minister Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar downplayed the danger to state-run BSNL and other telecom companies on July 28 by stating that billionaire Elon Musk’s satellite communication services business, Starlink, might only have 20 lakh connections in India. The Minister of State for Telecom was addressing a review meeting of BSNL.
Satellite Internet Expected to Serve Rural and Remote Regions
According to the minister, Starlink can only serve 20 lakh users in India while providing speeds of up to 200 Mbps. Telecom services will not be impacted. Rural and isolated locations, where BSNL is known to have a substantial presence, are anticipated to be the focus of satcom services.
High Cost May Limit Mass Adoption of Starlink
As per a government official, Starlink’s current capacity is the reason for the connection limit. According to the minister, satcom services will be too expensive up front and could cost up to INR 3,000 per month.
BSNL 4G Rollout Completed, Revenue Grows 30%
The minister added that the BSNL 4G rollout is finished and that there are currently no plans to raise pricing. “First, we want the market. “No tariff increases are planned,” he stated. According to the minister, BSNL’s revenue increased by 20–30% in the first quarter of the current fiscal year as a result of the rollout of 4G services and the stabilisation of technology.
More than 90% of the technical problems that existed before have been resolved, according to Pemmasani. Around power plants, there were problems. The replacement of 30,000 power plants cost between INR 600 and 700 crore. He went on to say that upgrades to power supplies had improved customer satisfaction and increased BSNL network uptime.
He stated that “each circle is being given individual targets in terms of increasing subscriber base,” and that BSNL is currently resolving numerous legacy issues.
India Pushes for Indigenous Tech, Phases Out Chinese Equipment
In response to a question regarding the state of Chinese equipment at BSNL, the minister stated that the government intends to keep utilising domestic technologies within the state-owned company and will progressively phase out 2G and 3G equipment, eliminating the need for maintenance. ZTE is one of the Chinese vendors that BSNL has used to install 2G and 3G technology.
What Exactly is Starlink?
The Starlink network is the first and biggest satellite internet provider in the world, according to the official website. The technique provides users with broadband (Wi-Fi) internet by using Earth’s lower orbit. By using their home setup or portable Starlink equipment to connect to the satellite network, people can use this broadband network to facilitate streaming, online gaming, and video calling.
Starlink’s global operations are owned and managed by SpaceX, a space technology business founded by billionaire Elon Musk. According to a previous Mint report, Starlink wants to use its satellite technology to boost the domestic telecom sector and solve connection problems in India’s rural and isolated areas.
The Indian National Space Promotion & Authorisation Centre, or IN-SPACe, granted the US-based business permission to use its Gen 1 constellation capability above India. The permission is valid for a period of five years, ending on July 7, 2030.
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