New Delhi: State-owned telecom operator Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and US-based satellite communications company Viasat have announced their collaboration to support the upcoming phase of the Indian Navy’s satellite communications enhancement program, scheduled to commence later this month.
The firms stated that this initiative will facilitate the Indian Navy’s shift toward a multi-band, multi-constellation satellite communication approach, utilizing BSNL’s Gateway Earth Station (ground-based infrastructure) alongside Viasat’s global satellite network to deliver expanded coverage, increased throughput, and enhanced reliability for mission-critical operations.
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 defense and maritime communication ecosystem.”
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“Under an agreement signed between BSNL and the Indian Defense Forces, Viasat’s high-capacity Ka-band satellite systems will be used alongside its existing L-band infrastructure to deliver enhanced, resilient, and secure connectivity for Indian naval platforms. Viasat’s international government team will support this program under the company’s Communication Services segment,” the firms announced.
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 modernizing its satellite communication capabilities. This milestone marks an important step forward in our ongoing collaboration with BSNL and the Indian Defense Forces.”
In November 2025, the Indian space agency ISRO had launched the indigenously built CMS-03 (GSAT-7R), a dedicated communication satellite meant to cater to the requirements of the Indian Navy. The 4,400kg satellite was the heaviest to be lofted to the Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit by an Indian rocket. This satellite is meant to enable communications between Indian Naval assets, their bases, headquarters.
GSAT-7R or CMS-03, India’s largest military communications satellite will enable secure and real-time data, video, voice connectivity between Indian Navy ships, submarines, aircraft, and Maritime Operations Centres, the Navy had said during launch.
Robert Ravi, Chairman and Managing Director, BSNL, said “BSNL is proud to support the Indian Navy’s SATCOM modernization 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.”
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