New Delhi: State-owned teleco operator Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and Viasat, a global satellite communications company, have announced their support for the next phase of the Indian NAVY’s satellite communications upgrade programme, which is scheduled to commence later this month.
The agreement is signed between BSNL and the Indian Defence Forces. Viasat’s high-capacity Ka-band satellite systems will be deployed alongside its existing L- band infrastructure to provide secure, resilient and enhanced connectivity for Indian naval platforms.
The programme will be supported by Viasat’s international government team under its Communication Services segment.
The upgrade will enable the Indian Navy to move towards a multi-band, multi-constellation SATCOM strategy, leveraging BSNL’s Gateway Earth Station and Viasat’s global satellite network to ensure wider coverage, higher data output and improved reliability for mission-critical operations.
BSNL Chairman and Managing Director Robert Ravi said, “BSNL is proud to support the Indian Navy’s SATCOM modernisation by providing advanced connectivity solutions through our partnership with Viasat. This upgrade reflects BSNL’s ongoing commitment to enabling India’s strategic communication needs with resilient and secure infrastructure.”
Gautam Sharma, Managing Director, Viasat India, said, “With the equipment having arrived in India and installation activities set to begin this month, we are proud to support the Indian Navy in modernising its satellite communication capabilities. This milestone marks an important step forward in our ongoing collaboration with BSNL and the Indian Defence Forces.”
Todd McDonell, President, International Government, Viasat, said, “This upgrade combines the resilience of L-band with the power of high-throughput Ka-band, providing enhanced connectivity for mission-critical operations. It also reinforces our long-term commitment to India’s defence and maritime communication ecosystem.”
