Eutelsat's OneWeb to power Navy's Kaundinya Voyage

Mumbai: Satcom firm Eutelsat said it will provide OneWeb's low earth orbit (LEO) satellite connectivity to Indian Navy's Project Kaundinya, a notable maritime voyage for India.

Project Kaundinya involves INSV Kaundinya, a sailing vessel built with traditional stitched-plank techniques inspired by ancient Indian shipbuilding, tracing historic maritime trade routes, starting from Porbandar, India, and reaching Muscat, Oman, as its first destination.

The government vessel lacks standard communication systems, making satellite links essential.


"Given the vessel's traditional design and the absence of conventional communication infrastructure, OneWeb's LEO technology served as the sole connectivity link for the expedition", a press release by the company said.

OneWeb's LEO network will deliver high-speed, low-latency internet to the vessel, supporting real-time communication for crew welfare, operational coordination, and maritime security, it said. The service will serve as the only source of live updates and documentation during the journey,

Sanjeev Sanyal, a crew member, project architect and member of the Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council, said the satellite connectivity has helped the crew in staying in touch with shore teams and maintaining morale during tough conditions.