Singtel seeks FDI approval to enter India’s satellite communications market

New Delhi: Singapore Telecommunications (Singtel) is looking to start satellite communication-related services in India, becoming the latest global aspirant in the country's nascent but high-potential satcom market.

Singtel plans to target both public and private enterprises with its satcom offerings through its wholly owned unit, Singapore Telecom India (STIPL), people familiar with the matter told ET.

The company has sought foreign direct investment (FDI) approval from the Centre for its plan, the people said. "While STIPL has been operational in India for more than two decades, a fresh FDI nod is needed as the company is expanding its scope to include satellite communication-related services," said one of the persons cited, requesting anonymity as the details are not public.


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Singtel didn't respond to an email query. The company, majority owned by Singapore's state investment firm Temasek Holdings, is a significant stakeholder in Bharti Airtel, India's second largest telecom operator, owning a 26.85% direct and indirect stake.

A government official confirmed Singtel's application is being considered but declined to elaborate.

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"The company plans to offer satcom services by utilising a global network of around 36-38 geo-stationary (GEO) satellites as well as through partnerships with players like Elon Musk-owned Starlink," a second person said.

Singtel also has a platform that allows integration of multiple orbit satellites like GEO, MEO and LEO with terrestrial fixed and mobile networks like 4G/5G. It is the latest addition to the list of India's satcom aspirants, which include Elon Musk's Starlink, Jeff Bezos-run Amazon Leo, Reliance Jio, and Bharti-backed Eutelsat OneWeb.

No Launches Yet

These include GEO, medium and low earth orbit satellites with terrestrial fixed and mobile networks like 4G/5G. It is the latest addition to the list of India’s satcom aspirants, which include Elon Musk’s Starlink, Jeff Bezos-run Amazon Leo, Reliance Jio, and Bharti Group-backed Eutelsat OneWeb, which plan to offer the service using low earth orbit satellites.

Starlink alone has about 11,000 of them. None of the applicants have been able to launch services in India because of lack of security clearance, undecided spectrum pricing and a tussle over regulations with traditional telecom operators.

Notably, Starlink recently reapplied to the Indian government for authorisation for its Gen 2 LEO constellation, which has the capability to offer direct-to-device services.

India’s space economy is reckoned to have a potential to touch $44 billion by 2033, boosting its global share to 8% from 2% currently, per estimates.

Singtel is currently providing broadcasting satellite capacity to a DTH operator in India, for which it has the requisite approval, the first person said.

The company offers global end-to-end fixed satellite communication services. The product and services offered under satellite segment include transponder lease, teleport hosting, satellite broadcast, VSAT service as well as low latency connectivity by Starlink, per Singtel’s website.

The second person said Singtel has made sizeable investments in the space segment, particularly to support its plans for India. “India is going to be the primary market for Singtel’s space ambitions,” the first person said.

The Indian space segment has been witness to intense activity, particularly after the government moved to open up the sector through the Indian Space Policy in December 2023. The step was aimed at attracting private participation in the segment.

The new policy allows foreign entities to set up infrastructure and offer satellite services in India. The policy has empowered space sector regulator Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) to act as the sole single-window agency to approve space activities by both government and private satcom companies. Any entity which wants to offer satcom services in India must get approvals from IN-SPACe, a licence for global mobile personal communications by satellite, and spectrum from the Department of Telecommunications.