Satcom should complement terrestrial networks: Minister Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani

Satellite communications (satcom) should be seen as complementary to terrestrial network technologies such as 5G and 6G, minister of state for communications Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani said Wednesday.

Addressing an industry conference organised here by Indian Space Association (ISpA), the minister said satcom should be utilised for last-mile connectivity and to bridge the prevalent digital divide in India. He added that the new Telecom Act supports administrative allocation of spectrum.

"5G and the upcoming 6G combined with satcom services (can) connect both the ground and the sky. However, the outcome is not just to compete with terrestrial networks, but to complement them as we integrate the 6G technology and the existing 5G technology into our infrastructure," Pemmasani said. "We must bring private and government partnerships for resilient networks."


Notably, the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) is working with the satellite and telecom sectors on standardised solution, 5G non-terrestrial networks, whichwill enable a user to seamlessly access satellite services and terrestrial networks on standard mobile devices, such as smartphones.

Despite the advancements in telecom technologies, India faces significant challenges in connecting the last-mile and bridging the digital divide, Pemmasani said. "Satcom is not just a tool, but a transformative entity that connects every household and every village."