UK satellite firm Inmarsat Holdings Ltd has got the approval to sell high-speed broadband to planes and shipping vessels
Inmarsat will access the market via state-owned BSNL.
BSNL received a license from India’s Department of Telecommunications, the London-based company said.
Inmarsat has struck deals with SpiceJet and the Shipping Corp of India.
Inmarsat already offers reliable but low-data “L-band” services in India.
It can now offer much faster 4G-like “Ka-band” broadband on its GX network.
Inmarsat’s connectivity comes from satellites in geostationary orbit.
It will compete with low-earth-orbit satellite rivals like Space Exploration Technologies Corp and OneWeb.