Unleashing the satellite communications revolution

It is time for India to maximise the potential of satellite broadband to bridge the digital divide and bring reliable connectivity to its citizens

- JOSUN JN

In an industry keynote address at the recently held Voice&Data Telecom Leadership Forum, Shivaji Chatterjee, Executive Vice President of Enterprise and Government Business at Hughes Communications India, shed light on the transformative power of satellite communications (Satcom).

Chatterjee drew attention to the growing worldwide interest in Satcom, emphasising how it has transitioned from being a complex technology to becoming a practical and broadly applicable service. The industry is currently experiencing the emergence of prominent figures like Elon Musk, Sunil Mittal, and Jeff Bezos, as they introduce satellite constellations that offer extensive coverage and unprecedented capacity. He also delved into the implications of these advancements in Satcom for both the enterprise and government sectors.

CHANGING LANDSCAPE OF SATCOM

In the past, Satcom was known for its high costs, limited bandwidth, and significant latency. However, according to Chatterjee, these traditional characteristics are rapidly changing. The industry has been revolutionised by the emergence of satellite constellations, which consist of numerous satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO). By positioning satellites at closer distances, approximately 600-1,200 Kms, latency has been significantly reduced, resulting in end-to-end latencies of under 50 milliseconds. This improvement now rivals terrestrial networks, ensuring consistent and reliable connectivity regardless of location, whether it be in rural or urban areas.