Inmarsat and its strategic partner BSNL, have taken a step closer to creating Digital India, an India that ensures connectivity is available to all. Together they opened a new Indian GSPS Gateway enabling Indian government and private sector customers to access highly reliable satellite phone (satphone) services via Inmarsat’s fourth generation constellation.

Minister of State for Communication (Independent Charge) & Minister of State for Railways, Govt. of India., Shri Manoj Sinha, officiated at launch of Inmarsat Satellite Gateway (File photo)

Under license from India’s Department of Telecommunications (DOT), the new GSPS gateway, located in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, will enable BSNL and Inmarsat to meet the most demanding requirements of satellite phone users throughout the country.

The launch of the new gateway also marks a further step towards Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi’s, ‘Digital India’ initiative. It will enable the Indian Government to provide secure communications to defense services, commercial enterprises, the maritime industry and India’s most remote communities.

Shri Anupam Shrivastava, Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of BSNL stated that this is an exciting day for BSNL as it brings reliable, secure voice communications, powered by Inmarsat’s fourth generation satellite network, within the reach of groups and communities in areas with little or no connectivity. This is an important step forward in achieving the goals of ‘Digital India’, and ensuring that connectivity is available to all.

Rupert Pearce, Chief Executive Officer of Inmarsat added that this is an important day for Inmarsat and BSNL and marks the start of a new era for Inmarsat services in India. Inmarsat has been working in close partnership with the Government of India for over 30 years. The combination of Inmarsat’s world leading satellite communications capabilities and BSNL’s strong telecommunications infrastructure will see the market for sat phone services grow significantly.

Gautam Sharma, Inmarsat India Managing Director concluded that with BSNL as the prime driver of Inmarsat’s GSPS business in India, access to satellite phone communications will be both simplified and seamless for users throughout the country.