BSNL Satellite Phone Priced at ₹1.34 Lakh, Limited to Approved Users

Government of India-owned BSNL has launched a satellite phone in India priced at ₹1.34 lakh (₹1,34,166 including taxes). It is not for general consumers — only defence personnel, maritime operators, disaster response teams, mining/industrial workers, and approved adventure travellers can buy it, subject to authorisation from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT).

With this satellite-phone launch from BSNL, India’s satellite phone ecosystem now spans BSNL’s government‑backed device and global imports (Iridium, Inmarsat, Thuraya, Garmin, LeSat). Everyday consumers cannot buy them freely — only authorised sectors and individuals with DoT clearance.

Key Facts About BSNL Satellite Phone

• Price: ₹1,34,166 (inclusive of taxes)
• Connectivity: Direct satellite link (via Inmarsat/Viasat), bypassing mobile towers
• Features:
  • Satellite-based voice calls & SMS
  • SOS emergency support
  • Rugged design for harsh environments
  • Long battery life for extended field use

Who Can Buy It?

• Defence personnel: Army, Navy, Air Force, Border Security Forces
• Maritime operators: Ships, offshore rigs, sailors
• Disaster response teams: Emergency services, NGOs in flood/earthquake zones
• Mining & industrial workers: Remote sites without telecom infrastructure
• Adventure travellers: Pilgrims, trekkers, expeditions in remote regions

⚠️ Approval Required: Buyers must obtain DoT authorisation before purchase. Using an unapproved satellite phone in India is illegal and can lead to prosecution.

Tariff Plans (BSNL GSPS)

• Government Agencies:
  • Plan G1: ₹3,500/month → 16–20 minutes talktime
  • Annual GA: ₹38,500 → 240 minutes
• Commercial Users:
  • Plan C1: ₹11,670/month → 60 minutes
  • Annual CA: ₹64,185 → 360 minutes
• Extra Usage: ₹18–25 per minute/message after quota

Why Strict Regulation?

• Satellite phones bypass local telecom networks, making them harder to monitor
• Rules tightened after the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, where satphones were reportedly misused. 

Major Satellite Phones Available in India (2026)

Besides BSNL’s ₹1.34 lakh satellite phone, India’s market in 2026 offers several international models like Inmarsat IsatPhone 2, Iridium 9555, Thuraya XT‑Lite, Garmin inReach communicators, and newer regional devices such as LeSat F2. These are available through global suppliers (Amazon, Alibaba) but require Department of Telecommunications (DoT) clearance for legal use in India

• Inmarsat IsatPhone 2: Shockproof, waterproof, global coverage – Defence, maritime, industrial users
• Iridium 9555: Rugged, GPS interphone, pole‑to‑pole coverage – Government, oil & gas, explorers
• Thuraya XT‑Lite: Affordable entry‑level, voice/SMS – Remote workers, small maritime operators
• Garmin inReach Explorer+: GPS navigation, topo maps, SOS – Trekkers, adventure tourism
• Garmin inReach Mini 2: Lightweight, 2‑way messaging, SOS – Outdoor enthusiasts, hikers
• LeSat F2: Multi‑constellation (Beidou + GPS) – Regional operators, field researchers
• BSNL Satellite Phone: Direct sat‑link via Viasat, rugged build – Defence, disaster response, mining

Model	Price (USD)	Key Features	Target Users
Inmarsat IsatPhone 2	~$1,138	Shockproof, waterproof, global coverage	Defence, maritime, industrial
Iridium 9555	~$1,100	Rugged, GPS interphone, pole‑to‑pole coverage	Government, oil & gas, explorers
Thuraya XT‑Lite	~$850	Affordable entry‑level, voice/SMS	Remote workers, small maritime operators
Garmin inReach Explorer+	~$499	GPS navigation, topo maps, SOS	Trekkers, adventure tourism
Garmin inReach Mini 2	~$352	Lightweight, 2‑way messaging, SOS	Outdoor enthusiasts, hikers
LeSat F2	~$1,159	Multi‑constellation (Beidou + GPS)	Regional operators, field researchers
BSNL Satellite Phone	₹1,34,166	Direct sat‑link via Viasat, rugged build	Defence, disaster response, mining

Regulatory Notes

• DoT Authorisation Required: All satellite phones in India need clearance from the Department of Telecommunications
• Illegal Use Penalties: Possession without approval can lead to prosecution
• Approved Sectors: Defence, maritime, disaster response, mining, and authorised adventure travel

Market Trends in India (2026)

• Adventure Tourism Growth: Compact communicators like Garmin inReach are popular among trekkers
• Professional Demand: Iridium and Inmarsat dominate defence, maritime, and oil/gas sectors
• Regional Expansion: Devices like LeSat F2 show Asia‑Pacific’s push for lower‑cost satphones
• Consumer Shift: India’s SATCOM market valued at USD 3.77 billion in 2026, growing at 16% CAGR

Bottom Line

The BSNL satellite phone is a mission-critical device, not a consumer gadget. If you are in defence, maritime, disaster response, mining, or authorised adventure travel, you can apply through BSNL with DoT clearance. For everyday users, it is unavailable.

BSNL to Roll Out Caller Name Service Nationwide by End of March 2026

Representational

BSNL is preparing to commercially launch its Caller Name Presentation (CNAP) service across India by March 31, 2026, with zone-wise testing underway and interoperability trials being conducted with Jio, Airtel, and Vodafone Idea. The service will display verified caller names directly on users’ screens, reducing reliance on third-party apps like Truecaller.

Key Highlights of BSNL’s CNAP Rollout

• Launch timeline: Expected pan-India availability by March 31, 2026.
• Technology partner: CNAP platform developed by C-DoT.
• Testing: Ongoing zone-wise integration and interoperability trials with private telcos (Jio, Airtel, e Idea).
• Data source: Caller names displayed using KYC-verified subscriber records.
• User control: CNAP will be enabled by default, with opt-out options available.

Why CNAP Matters

• Consumer protection: Helps combat spam, fraud, and phishing calls.
• Alternative to apps: Reduces dependence on third-party caller ID apps like Truecaller.
• Regulatory push: Supported by TRAI to improve transparency in mobile communication.
• Market impact: BSNL’s rollout could pressure private operators to accelerate adoption.

Comparison: CNAP vs. Truecaller

Feature	CNAP (BSNL)	Truecaller
Data source	Verified KYC records	Crowdsourced user data
Accuracy	High (official subscriber info)	Variable, sometimes inaccurate
Integration	Native, network-level	App-based, requires installation
Privacy	Controlled by telecom operators	Dependent on app permissions
Availability	Pan-India rollout by Mar 2026	Already widely available

Challenges Ahead

• Interoperability: Ensuring seamless caller name display across networks.
• Privacy concerns: Safeguarding subscriber information against misuse.
• Adoption by private telcos: Widespread adoption depends on cooperation from Jio, Airtel, and Vi.

Editorial Take

BSNL’s CNAP launch represents a strategic opportunity for the state-owned operator to regain relevance in India’s telecom market. By offering a trustworthy, network-level caller ID solution, BSNL could position itself as a leader in consumer protection and digital trust. If private telcos follow suit, CNAP may become a standard feature across Indian mobile networks, reshaping how users interact with unknown calls.

BSNL Powers Up with AI, Developing Indigenous Small Language Models

BSNL’s Chairman and Managing Director, Robert J. Ravi, has confirmed that the state-run telecom operator is developing in-house small language models (SLMs) to strengthen its AI capabilities. The move is part of BSNL’s broader strategy to leverage artificial intelligence for network management, customer experience, and churn reduction.

Key Highlights

• AI-driven transformation: BSNL is banking on AI to optimize telecom solutions, improve service delivery, and enhance customer satisfaction.
• In-house SLMs: Instead of relying solely on external large language models, BSNL is building its own smaller, domain-specific models tailored for telecom operations.
• Strategic focus areas:
  • Network management – predictive maintenance, traffic optimization.
  • Customer experience – personalized support, faster resolution.
  • Churn reduction – analyzing usage patterns and proactively addressing customer concerns.
• Leadership vision: Ravi emphasized that AI workloads will dominate the telecom sector in the 5G era, making indigenous AI development critical for BSNL’s competitiveness.

This signals BSNL’s intent to position itself not just as a telecom provider but as a tech-driven enterprise, aligning with India’s push for indigenous AI stacks and digital sovereignty.

Here’s a detailed breakdown of how BSNL’s Small Language Models (SLMs) differ from traditional Large Language Models (LLMs), and why this distinction matters in telecom:

Key Differences Between SLMs and LLMs

Aspect	Large Language Models (LLMs)	Small Language Models (SLMs)	Why BSNL Prefers SLMs
Scale	Billions of parameters, massive datasets	Fewer parameters, domain-specific training	Easier to train and deploy for telecom-specific tasks
Resource Needs	Require huge compute power, GPUs, cloud infrastructure	Lightweight, can run on local servers or edge devices	Cost-effective for a state-run telco with limited budgets
Speed & Efficiency	Slower inference, high latency	Faster response times, optimized for real-time tasks	Critical for customer support and network management
Generalization	Broad knowledge across domains	Narrow focus on telecom operations	Better accuracy for BSNL’s internal use cases
Deployment	Cloud-heavy, centralized	Edge-friendly, can be embedded in telecom infrastructure	Supports 5G rollout and localized AI workloads
Cost	Expensive to train and maintain	Lower training and operational costs	Aligns with BSNL’s need for affordable innovation

Why This Matters for BSNL

• Telecom-specific optimization: SLMs can be fine-tuned for tasks like predictive maintenance, call routing, and churn analysis.
• Digital sovereignty: Developing in-house models reduces dependence on foreign AI providers.
• Scalability in 5G era: Lightweight models can be deployed across BSNL’s vast network infrastructure without overwhelming resources.
• Customer experience: Faster, domain-specific AI responses improve support and reduce churn.

In short, BSNL’s SLMs are leaner, cheaper, and more focused, making them a strategic fit for telecom operations, whereas LLMs are powerful but resource-heavy and overly broad for BSNL’s needs.

BSNL Deploying 100,000 Fully "Made in India" 4G Towers

BSNL is currently going in process of deploying 100,000 fully indigenous 4G Towers under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. This ambitious project involves cutting-edge technology developed entirely in India, with contributions from C-DOT for core technology, Tejas Networks for telecom towers, and TCS for system integration.

The rollout is expected to be completed by June 2025, after which these towers will be upgraded to 5G. This initiative positions India as the fifth country globally to develop its own 4G telecom stack, joining the ranks of China, Finland, Sweden, and South Korea.

Additionally, BSNL has achieved a financial turnaround, posting a ₹262 crore net profit in the October-December quarter of 2024, marking its first profit in 18 years.

BSNL's indigenous 4G towers are a technological marvel, developed under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. The key technical details are as below:

• Core Technology: The towers use a fully indigenous 4G telecom stack developed by C-DOT (Centre for Development of Telematics), ensuring robust and secure operations.
• Radio Access Network (RAN): The telecom towers are provided by Tejas Networks, a leading Indian company specializing in high-performance networking products.
• System Integration: TCS (Tata Consultancy Services) handles the integration of the entire system, ensuring seamless functionality.
• Scalability: These towers are designed to be easily upgraded to 5G, making them future-ready.
• Coverage: The deployment focuses on enhancing connectivity in rural and remote areas, bridging the digital divide.
• Energy Efficiency: The towers are optimized for low power consumption, contributing to sustainable development.

This initiative not only showcases India's technological capabilities but also sets the stage for further advancements in telecom infrastructure.

This development not only strengthens India's telecom infrastructure but also underscores its growing self-reliance in technology.

BSNL Launches New Generation Over-the-Air (OTA) 4G & 5G-Ready Universal Sim Platform

BSNL has just launched a new 4G and 5G-ready Over-the-Air (OTA) and Universal SIM (USIM) platform. This innovative platform, developed in collaboration with Pyro Holdings, allows subscribers to choose their mobile numbers and replace SIMs without geographical restrictions.

The primary platform was inaugurated in Chandigarh, with a disaster recovery site in Trichy.

Key features include:

• Flexibility in choosing mobile numbers: Subscribers can select their mobile numbers on the fly.
• Geographical freedom: SIM replacements can be done without any geographical limitations.
• Enhanced connectivity: The platform supports both 4G and 5G networks, ensuring high-quality service and connectivity.

This initiative is part of BSNL's broader efforts to upgrade its network and bridge the digital divide, especially in rural and remote areas. The rollout began in Chandigarh, with a disaster recovery site in Trichy.

The Universal SIM (USIM) offers several advantages over traditional SIM cards, especially in the context of modern telecommunications. USIMs provide stronger encryption and authentication mechanisms, making them more secure against hacking and fraud. They are designed to work seamlessly across different network technologies, including 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G, ensuring better compatibility and future-proofing.

Additionally, USIMs can receive updates and configurations remotely Over-the-Air (OTA), reducing the need for physical SIM replacements and allowing for quicker deployment of new services.

The OTA USIM platform by BSNL works by leveraging over-the-air technology to manage and update SIM cards remotely. Users can activate and configure their SIM cards without needing a physical SIM swap. This is done through a secure server that sends the necessary data to the user’s device over the air.

The USIM can be used across different regions without needing a new SIM card. This means users can retain their mobile number and services even if they move to a different part of the country.

This move is part of BSNL's effots to enhance connectivity and service quality across India, particularly in rural and remote areas. It's a significant step towards bridging the digital divide and empowering more citizens with advanced telecommunications services.

TCS Inks Rs 15,000 Cr Deal With BSNL for High-Speed 4G Connectivity in Over 1000 Villages

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has partnered with Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) in a significant Rs 15,000 crore deal to roll out a 4G network across India. This collaboration is set to enhance mobile internet connectivity, especially in rural areas, and is a step towards bridging the digital divide.

The deal includes setting up extensive data centres and aims to provide high-speed 4G connectivity to over 1,000 villages. It's also part of the groundwork for future 5G capabilities, with TCS and BSNL focusing on expanding their reach by installing 4G services at an additional 1 lakh sites, targeting a full-scale rollout by August 2024.

This initiative is expected to revolutionize mobile internet speeds for users in India and foster greater digital inclusion and economic development across the country.

BSNL plays a pivotal role in the partnership with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) for the rollout of the 4G network across India. BSNL is responsible for expanding the 4G network to over 1,000 villages, aiming to enhance the quality of mobile internet services in rural areas. The company is focused on establishing seamless communication networks to connect various district and tehsil offices, improving administrative efficiency and accessibility

Additionally, Tata's Nelco is reportedly in talks with the Canadian firm Telesat to bring satellite broadband internet services to India through Telesat's Lightspeed brand. Both companies are working on making these services available by 2024 and are focusing on affordability for users.

These efforts by Tata are part of a broader commitment to enhance connectivity and foster digital inclusion across India, ensuring that high-speed internet services reach even the most remote areas of the country. With these developments, Tata is set to play a pivotal role in the nation's digital transformation.

Data Centers

As part of the Rs 15,000 crore 4G deal with BSNL, TCS is also setting up four large data centres. This move is aimed at bolstering the telecom infrastructure necessary for the new 4G network. These data centres will play a crucial role in managing and processing the vast amounts of data that will be generated and used across the network.

TCS will setup these data centres in collaboration with C-DoT. It will be deployes as India's first locally developed 4G network solution for BSNL. Notably, this will be across BSNL's entire service area and will involve installing equipment at 38 locations. 

The establishment of these data centres is a key component of the overall project, which is expected to significantly improve internet connectivity and speed across India, especially in rural and remote areas. It's a major step forward in the digital transformation journey of the country.

BSNL with Skylo To Introduce World's First, Satellite-based Narrowband-IoT Network in India

BSNL, in partnership with Skylotech India, announced today a breakthrough in satellite-based NB-IoT (Narrow Band-Internet of Things), in pursuance of the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modis vision of a truly Digital India starting with fishermen, farmers, construction, mining andlogistics enterprises. With this solution, India will now have access to a ubiquitous fabric of connectivity for millions of yet unconnected machines, sensors and industrial IoT devices.

This new ‘Made in India’ Solution, which is indigenously developed by Skylo, will connect with BSNLs satellite- ground infrastructure and provide PAN-India coverage, including Indian seas. The coverage will be so vast that it will not leave any dark patch within the boundary of India, from Kashmir &Ladakh to Kanyakumari, and from Gujarat to the North East, including the Indian seas.

Shri P.K.Purwar, CMD, BSNL, said:“The solution is in line with BSNLs vision to leverage technology to provide affordable and innovative telecom services and products across customers segments”.He further added:Skylo would also help provide critical data for the logistics sector to enable effective distribution of COVID-19vaccine in 2021and will be a big contributor in service to the nation.”

Shri Parthsarathi Trivedi, CEO and Co-founder, Skylo, said: For centuries, industries, including agriculture, railways and fisheries, have been operating offline, and havenot had the opportunity to take full advantage of the latest advancements in AI&IoT until today.This is theworlds first satellite-based NB-IoT network and I am proud to launch this capabilityin India first to transform lives and our domestic industries”.

Shri VivekBanzal, Director (CFA), BSNL Board, said, Successful POCs have already been conducted by BSNL and Skylo in India and we will soon approach various user groups before the New Year 2021 begins.

This breakthrough announcement is very timely because it comes during the ongoing Indian Mobile Congress 2020. This new technology supports the Department of Telecom and NITI Aayogs plan of bringing indigenous IoT connectivity to India’s core sectors. Examples of where this technology has already been tested successfully include, Indian Railways, fishing vessels, and enabling connected vehicles across India.

A small, smart, incredibly rugged box, the Skylo ‘User Terminal’ interfaces with sensors and transmits data to the Skylo Network and into peoples hands. The accompanying Data Platform provides an immersive, visual, experience for industry-specific applications on mobile or desktop. Itgives users the ability to take immediate and appropriate action, no matter where they are. This new digital machine connectivity layer will serve as a complement to smartphone-centric mobile & Wi-Fi networks, and covers India’s full geography to bring online new applications for the first time.

Telecom Minister Launches Completely Wireless BSNL Bharat AirFibre for Rural Bihar with Subscription starts at ₹ 349/ Month

• Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad launches completely wireless BSNL Bharat AirFibre for rural areas in Bihar
• Bihar gets a new Next Generation Network Telephone Exchange to serve the New Bihar Vidhan Mandal
• Bharat AirFibre works on the unlicensed spectrum, easy to deploy and morereliable, Subscription starts at Rs. 349 / Month
• 50 more AirFibre sector antennas to be deployed in Bihar within next 6 months announced - Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad

BSNL takes a leap forward to fulfil Government of India’s vision of Broadband to All. Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad, Minister of Communications and Electronics & IT and Law & Justice, inaugurated a Next Generation Network Telephone Exchange at New Bihar Vidhan Mandal compound and Bharat Air Fibre service at Danapur Telephone Exchange in Bihar through Video conferencing from New Delhi on 29th August. Shri Sushil Kumar Modi, Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar, Shri Awadhesh Narain Singh, Chairman Bihar Legislative Council along with other dignitaries graced the occasion .

This Next Generation Network Telephone exchange is a facility augmentation in Bihar Vidhan Mandal which will serve to the additional demand for reliable wireline and broadband services since it is connected on optical fibre . This exchange has a capacity of 512 telephone wireline and 128 broadband connections which can further be increased. New and Old Vidhan Mandal and 3 New Secretariat Block A, B And C will be served through this new facility.

While newly commissioned Bharat AirFibre will help to provide faster and reliable internet services in the rural area, Bharat AirFibre has speed at par with high-speed fibre FTTH and will serve upto 6 Km area covering R.K.Puram, Anandpur, Danapur Market and Danapur Cantonment from Danapur Telephone Exchange .

This being completely wireless technology is easy to deploy , more reliable, needs less maintenance and will provide connectivity in Non-feasible areas and villages which can’t be connected through FTTH. Bharat AirFibre works on the unlicensed spectrum and has very less interference which enables better quality of relay for the subscribers.

Bharat AirFibre will start its subscription at a low price point of Rs. 349 per month, this makes internet accessible and affordable to users in villages and difficult terrains.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision is to convert challenges into opportunity for Aatmanirbhar Bharat and on the same lines my mission is also to take opportunities to rural corners of India. Especially in the times of Covid19 pandemic, there is immense scope for digital education, digital skilling and tele medicine etc and broadband connectivity in rural India will play a crucial role. Bharat AirFibre will help us to scale-up faster and meet the target of covering 6 Lakhs villages in 1000 Days.” said Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad.

During the event Telecom Minister also announced 50 more AirFibre sector antennas to be deployed in Bihar within next 6 months

In his address at the event Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar Shri Sushil Modi said “Bihar Governmet has recently notified Right of Way (RoW) rules to facilitate better deployment of mobile tower antennas and laying of fibre optic cable in the state. Also I am happy to mention recently I got the new BSNL FTTH broadband connection and I impressed with its high speed connectivity.”

Government of India has allotted various projects of national and strategic importance to BSNL that will help BSNL to contribute in nation building such as Network for spectrum (NFS), Bharat Net project for Optical Fiber connectivity including more than 3000 Gram Panchayats of strategic Union Territories of Jammu &Kashmir and Ladakh. Recently BSNL has commissioned submarine optical fibre cable between Chennai to Andaman & Nicobar Islands at a total cost of Rs 1224 Crore. Also, submarine Cable connectivity has been planned between mainland and Lakshadweep Islands and it will be executed by BSNL. Government of India has allotted 4 G spectrum to BSNL also worth nearly Rs 14,000cr. BSNL is making full preparation to launch 4G services across the country and thus helping to boost the Government’s initiative of “make in India”.

Besides various Government projects, BSNL has also provided almost 3Lakh FTTH/ Broadband connections across the country to meet the enhanced internet requirements of ‘work from home’ during last six months. Also, to bring delight to the customers BSNL has introduced various attractive tariff plans and simplified the various processes at BSNL Portal for greater digital engagement.

BSNL To Offer Low-Cost Smartphones Bundled With Low Tariff Plans

Indian state-owned telecommunications company Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) after completing 17 years of its services has plans to offer low cost smartphones to its customers in the form bundled offers. Although in 2014 too BSNL had launched low cost smartphones & tablets called BSNL Penta Bharat however it didn't succeed and failed miserably in front of other private low cost smartphone manufacturers such as Micromax and Spice.

This time, the news from The Hindu reveals that BSNL has tied up with Micromax and Lava, two local smartphone manufacturers that will offer some low cost handsets to the operator.

The nationwide launch will follow shortly as the operator is in the process of signing the deals with Micromax and Lava from whom BSNL will source smartphones.

While the pricing of the devices have not been fixed, the operator expects the devices to be priced in the range of "Rs 2,500 or less." Principal general manager- Hyderabad telecom district, K, Ramchand told The Hindu that the final cost is still being worked out, but the devices will be affordable.

BSNL has also chosen local manufacturers as part of the Make in India initiative.

Earlier in November 2013 BSNL has already launched earlier version of 'Bharat Phone' at price of Rs.1799 and it was India's first internet access ready phone at this price now the latest version of this smartphone is cheaper than its earlier version at just Rs.1099.

BSNL, just a couple of months back, unveiled -- BSNL Wallet, its digital wallet (mobile payment App) in partnership with MobiKwik to enable one-tap bill payment for its over 100 million subscribers.

BSNL With MobiKwik Launches 'BSNL Wallet' - India's Largest Wallet By Telecom Co.

Indian state-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) has unveiled its digital wallet (mobile payment App) in partnership with MobiKwik to enable one-tap bill payment for its over 100 million subscribers.

The wallet has been developed and issued by MobiKwik on behalf of BSNL. The subscribers will be able to use the digital wallet at over 1.5 million merchants across India. The app - BSNL Wallet can be downloaded from here.

Introducing #BSNLWallet
Enabling masses in #MovingForward with #DigitalIndia
Download Now - https://t.co/pUJQfxxrEF@BSNLCorporate pic.twitter.com/iPdCHzjVS4

— MobiKwik (@MobiKwik) August 18, 2017

The digital wallet is in line with the telecom corporation’s intent to take the reach of digital payments to semi-urban and rural India, a BSNL statement said.

BSNL says that with the app its customers will have a new way to recharge their phone, pay their milkman, domestic help, groceries, book bus and train tickets.

To recall, in July 2015 BSNL had launched another similar mobile wallet app called SpeedPay, which the company could have improvised and enhanced further instead of launching a new mobile wallet altogether.

Earlier this month, MobiKwik Co-founder Upasana Taku did hinted out about this progress when she said in a statement that Mobikwik is becoming India's first debit plus credit wallet, where people could have exclusive credit lines, credit cards and EMI cards mapped through the app.

Launching the digital wallet, telecom minister Manoj Sinha said, "With this co-branded wallet, the ease of payment will be extended to all the customers while equally strengthening financial inclusion in the rural hinterlands, which often get neglected".

BSNL chairman Anupam Srivastava said the partnership will ensure that all its 100 million customers are able to "seamlessly and conveniently transact and make mobile and other financial payments through the co-branded MobiKwik wallet". Srivastava said the wallet will work on both smartphone and feature phones.

BSNL claimed that with over 1.5 million merchants on the network, this is India’s largest wallet by any telecom company.

The alliance with BSNL will "empower masses in India with access to dependable internet connectivity and digital payments", Bipin Preet Singh, founder and CEO of MobiKwik said. The BSNL wallet will enable people to pay bills, recharge their phone connections and pay for their daily purchases, he added.

Meet 'AeroVoyce' India's First National Mobile Virtual Network Operator

A week back we informed you that state-run BSNL is considering on extending satellite phone services to all Indian citizens in order to make sure that no Indian runs into network trouble ever again. And now, the telecom is news again as it has decided to partner with AdPay, a mobile payment provider established in 2006, to bring Indians theirs first ever mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), Aerovoyce.

The MVNO will provide its users with voice and data services, fiber and broadband services, and will also address offer Internet of Things (IoT) SIM Cards, along with International Traveller’s SIM Cards. BSNL and AdPay have an aim of making Aerovoyce the top MVNO in India in a period of next three years.

In addition to the aforementioned services, Aerovoyce will be offering people with lucrative bundled voice and data plans, and value added services like music and movies streaming in order to entice the people to make a switch from their current telecom operators. According to the press release, the MVNO will also be providing its users with a mobile payment wallet, which has become kind of a necessity in post-demonetised India. Both the companies will together work on Enterprises end-2-end solutions in order to provide Aerovoyce with enhanced facilities. The press release also highlighted that the MVNO will be delivering IoT Connectivity/SIMs for all IoT solutions in smart cities, automobiles, agriculture and many more such areas.

BSNL and AdPay's Aerovoyce will be the first licensee and national MVNO in India. The MVNO won the license for the same fair and square in December last year.

Aerovoyce will also be extending data SIM-enabled tablets and laptop in India. Under the partnership agreement signed between BSNL and AdPay, Aerovoyce will be making use of Spectrum from BSNL, and closely work with the state-run telecom provider for bringing better services to Indian citizens, and avoid coming up with offers that might clash with BSNL.

According to the press release, Aerovoyce will specifically focus on Tier2/Tier3 Indian cities with relevant products and great offers to win the huge market there. People who are always on the move travelling will be able to buy the SIM online, over the phone, kiosk and select retail stores across India and at the Airports. In order to make things more lucrative for customers, the MVNO has pledged to provide instant onboarding of subscribers for all its services and same hour activation.

Expressing his excitement on the announcement of Aerovoyce, Sivakumar Kuppusamy, CEO, Adpay mobile payment India, said, "We are delighted to launch our new brand AEROVOYCE with BSNL for providing mobile network services across India using the latest carrier technology. We look forward to offer a superior telecommunication experience to our valued customers who can choose from affordable plans to get the fantastic digital experience. Our brand motto and tagline is “Believin’ Communication” at cheaper and affordable price. Every Rupee should be justified for the services provided to the customer that’s the mantra of AEROVOYCE."

Meet 'AeroVoyce' India's First National Mobile Virtual Network Operator

A week back we informed you that state-run BSNL is considering on extending satellite phone services to all Indian citizens in order to make sure that no Indian runs into network trouble ever again. And now, the telecom is news again as it has decided to partner with AdPay, a mobile payment provider established in 2006, to bring Indians theirs first ever mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), Aerovoyce.

The MVNO will provide its users with voice and data services, fiber and broadband services, and will also address offer Internet of Things (IoT) SIM Cards, along with International Traveller’s SIM Cards. BSNL and AdPay have an aim of making Aerovoyce the top MVNO in India in a period of next three years.

In addition to the aforementioned services, Aerovoyce will be offering people with lucrative bundled voice and data plans, and value added services like music and movies streaming in order to entice the people to make a switch from their current telecom operators. According to the press release, the MVNO will also be providing its users with a mobile payment wallet, which has become kind of a necessity in post-demonetised India. Both the companies will together work on Enterprises end-2-end solutions in order to provide Aerovoyce with enhanced facilities. The press release also highlighted that the MVNO will be delivering IoT Connectivity/SIMs for all IoT solutions in smart cities, automobiles, agriculture and many more such areas.

BSNL and AdPay's Aerovoyce will be the first licensee and national MVNO in India. The MVNO won the license for the same fair and square in December last year.

Aerovoyce will also be extending data SIM-enabled tablets and laptop in India. Under the partnership agreement signed between BSNL and AdPay, Aerovoyce will be making use of Spectrum from BSNL, and closely work with the state-run telecom provider for bringing better services to Indian citizens, and avoid coming up with offers that might clash with BSNL.

According to the press release, Aerovoyce will specifically focus on Tier2/Tier3 Indian cities with relevant products and great offers to win the huge market there. People who are always on the move travelling will be able to buy the SIM online, over the phone, kiosk and select retail stores across India and at the Airports. In order to make things more lucrative for customers, the MVNO has pledged to provide instant onboarding of subscribers for all its services and same hour activation.

Expressing his excitement on the announcement of Aerovoyce, Sivakumar Kuppusamy, CEO, Adpay mobile payment India, said, "We are delighted to launch our new brand AEROVOYCE with BSNL for providing mobile network services across India using the latest carrier technology. We look forward to offer a superior telecommunication experience to our valued customers who can choose from affordable plans to get the fantastic digital experience. Our brand motto and tagline is “Believin’ Communication” at cheaper and affordable price. Every Rupee should be justified for the services provided to the customer that’s the mantra of AEROVOYCE."

Soon Satellite Phone Service for All Citizens in India

Representational Picture

It's 2017, but unfortunately, mobile phone network issues still persist in the Indian subcontinent. In order to bail its citizens out of the constant network troubles that they run into, state-run BSNL is considering on extending satellite phone services to all Indian citizens. The phones, which can be expected to be made available in another two years, will be capable of working in every nook and corner of the South Asian country and will be safe from any network breakdown whatsoever.

According to a statement given by BSNL chairman and managing director Anupam Shrivastava to PTI, the company has already the first official step and applied to International Maritime Organisation. He said, "It will take some time to complete the process. In 18-24 months, we will be in a position to open satellite phones service for citizens in a phased manner."

While traditional mobile networks cover around 25-30km around towers and can transmit signals to phones placed equal to or below the height of the tower, Satellite phones, on the other hand, are capable of working in any part of the country as they on function directly from satellites located about 35,700km above the earth. They can even function from inside flights and ships.

The state-run telecom company is making use of INMARSAT to provide the satellite phone service. The service will be initially rolled out to government agencies, but will soon be extended to the citizens of the country in an organised manner.

Government agencies handling Border Security Force, state police, disaster, railways, and other government agencies will be provided with the satellite phone service in the first phase.

The phone service will be able to cover areas where currently no networks are present and INMARSAT's 14 satellites will help BSNL in its mission.

According to Shrivastava, currently the number of satellite phone connections in India are very less but once BSNL starts with its satellite phone for every citizen initiative with full force, the whole dynamics of the market can be expected to go through a massive change. He also added, that the huge volume of phone connections might even help in bringing down the overall cost of the service. BSNL has decided to charge only Re 1 over the cost that the satellite firm will billing to them.

In the first phase, call rates on satellite phones are expected to be in the range of Rs. 30-35 since there are only about 4,600 connections present in the country.

He further added, "Satellite phones also cost Rs 40,000 and more. All the satellite phones are imported at present. Once we open it for citizens, the volumes will drive down the cost of calls as well as handset. Even, huge volume can attract satellite phone manufacturers to set-up their unit in India. We expect it to create a new ecosystem of satellite services in the country."
Tata Communications Ltd. is currently providing satellite phones in India. The company inherited the licence from Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited.

According to the plan chalked out, TCL services will be phased out by June 30 this year with all its connections getting transferred to BSNL service

At present, India has 1,532 authorised satellite phone connections functioning. In addition to this, Tata Communications Ltd. has also issued 4,143 permits to maritime community for usage of these phones on ships at sea.

Though satellite phones might offer smooth connection promise, but they all carry security concerns. According to India's telecom regulator TRAI, communication done through satellite phones can be monitored by foreign agencies as their gateways are located outside India. This is the reason that Indian Defence forces have declined to use satellite phones from the foreign operators. In fact, several security agencies have time and again been voicing their demand for establishment of a new gateway in the Indian subcontinent which is capable of supporting new generation handsets for land mobile connections.

The demand of these security agencies seems to have finally been met, with a new satellite phone gateway being set-up in India with legal interception and monitoring system (LIMS).

According to Shrivastava, there are no more security issued related to satellite phones anymore in India as BSNL has set-up a gateway with INMARSAT to address security concerns among government agencies. The company will be rolling out satellite services once their registration process is completed and all the necessary approvals are in line.

Wi-Fi HotSpots In Rural Gram Panchayats Soon

Internet has now become an indispensable part of our lives. We depend on it 24x7 for various things in our day to day lives. The Government of India is taking various steps in order to spread the wonders of Internet in each and every part of the country. Taking a step in this direction, Bharat Broadband Network Limited (BBNL), which is a special purpose vehicle set up by the central government for the establishment, operations and management of National Optical Fiber Network (NOFN), has started its work on establishing Wi-Fi hotspots in grama panchayats.

According to Aruna Sundararajan, Chairman and MD, BBNL, this project of establishing Wi-Fi hotspots in grama panchayats will be achieved as soon as the project, which has a goal of establishing a network of high speed broadband internet in 2.5 lakh grama panchayats, comes into existence.

Ravi Shankar Prasad, the Union Minister for Communication and Information Technology, commissioned India’s first high speed rural broadband network under the NOFN project in Idukki district of Thiruvananthapuram on Monday. The official inauguration of the same took place in Technopark on Monday.

According to Aruna, once the network is established, it would work as a neutral non-discriminatory infrastructure that can be utilized equally by private service providers, including the small scale service providers like cable operators to provide internet services to people. She also added, through this project, the central government is trying to achieve an internet revolution in the country.

The network, when established, will enable the easy delivery of services like payments, local planning, monitoring and management under government schemes at panchayats level possible.

India's NOFN project is being modeled after Australia’s NBN project. Australia is expected to finish the project by 2020, while India’s NOFN might defeat it in the race and finish earlier than NBN.

NOFN will be extended to cover 50,000 grama panchayats in its first phase. The 2,00,000 remaining grama panchayats will be covered in a phased manner by next year. The first phase of the NOFN project is being implemented by three Public Sector Units namely- Railtel, BSNL and PGCIL.

Wi-Fi HotSpots In Rural Gram Panchayats Soon

Internet has now become an indispensable part of our lives. We depend on it 24x7 for various things in our day to day lives. The Government of India is taking various steps in order to spread the wonders of Internet in each and every part of the country. Taking a step in this direction, Bharat Broadband Network Limited (BBNL), which is a special purpose vehicle set up by the central government for the establishment, operations and management of National Optical Fiber Network (NOFN), has started its work on establishing Wi-Fi hotspots in grama panchayats.

According to Aruna Sundararajan, Chairman and MD, BBNL, this project of establishing Wi-Fi hotspots in grama panchayats will be achieved as soon as the project, which has a goal of establishing a network of high speed broadband internet in 2.5 lakh grama panchayats, comes into existence.

Ravi Shankar Prasad, the Union Minister for Communication and Information Technology, commissioned India’s first high speed rural broadband network under the NOFN project in Idukki district of Thiruvananthapuram on Monday. The official inauguration of the same took place in Technopark on Monday.

According to Aruna, once the network is established, it would work as a neutral non-discriminatory infrastructure that can be utilized equally by private service providers, including the small scale service providers like cable operators to provide internet services to people. She also added, through this project, the central government is trying to achieve an internet revolution in the country.

The network, when established, will enable the easy delivery of services like payments, local planning, monitoring and management under government schemes at panchayats level possible.

India's NOFN project is being modeled after Australia’s NBN project. Australia is expected to finish the project by 2020, while India’s NOFN might defeat it in the race and finish earlier than NBN.

NOFN will be extended to cover 50,000 grama panchayats in its first phase. The 2,00,000 remaining grama panchayats will be covered in a phased manner by next year. The first phase of the NOFN project is being implemented by three Public Sector Units namely- Railtel, BSNL and PGCIL.

BSNL launched low-cost smartphone with e-governance applications for common man

This friday, BSNL (Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited), an Indian state-owned telecommunications company launched a low-cost smartphone called BSNL Penta Bharat Phone which will cost around RS.895 - Rs.1485 and is very affordable for common man in India. The smartphones even comes with pre-installed e-governance applications in it.

The highly affordable smartphone has been named as 'Penta Bharat Phone' and the mobile device has a three-inch large screen display with provision for dual SIM card and 1.3MP camera. The phone has Java OS in it and best suited for use like mobile banking, tele-healthcare delivery and streaming data delivery.

Earlier in November 2013 BSNL has already launched earlier version of 'Bharat Phone' at price of Rs.1799 and it was India's first internet access ready phone at this price now the latest version of this smartphone is cheaper than its earlier version at just Rs.1099.

Like BSNL's earlier smartphone & tablet this mobile device is also designed and developed by Noida based Pantel Technologies Ltd, a pioneer company and innovator in devising latest technology smartphones & tablets at an affordable price. It's a same company that built India’s first, EDGE enabled Jelly Bean Tablet PC.

"The low-cost mobile device will alter the Indian feature phone industry as it has been designed especially for e-governance applications and optimised for internet access to empower common man," BSNL chairman R K Upadhyay said on the occasion.

The 'Bharat Phone' has facility to browse, e-mail, to check Facebook and download music, video and Java games. It also have bluetooth for quick sharing of files, a lithium-ion battery with eight-hour charge and 15 days standby, 64MB of RAM and 64MB of internal storage, SMS scheduler, multimedia gaming and mobile tracker.