Is India on the Verge of Satellite Phones Adoption?

As India accelerates its smartphone innovation and manufacturing ecosystem, a new frontier is emerging—satellite-connected phones. 

There is renewed momentum in satellite communication, with players like SpaceX’s Starlink and Bharti Global–backed OneWeb racing to enter the Indian market and deliver satellite broadband connectivity to the country’s remotest corners. 

IIIT Bangalore professor V Sridhar mentioned in his article that several critical issues remain unresolved, from spectrum allocation for satellite broadband, to deciding whether these frequencies should be assigned administratively or auctioned, to clarifying guidelines on ground-station placement and interconnection. 

The key hurdle for satellite phones and D2M to scale in India is regulation, said Prachi Singh, senior analyst at CounterPoint Research. “DoT and TRAI are working on a framework, but we still need clarity on MSS/IMT spectrum use, security requirements, and device-certification rules,” she said. 

The new satcom norms are a start, but D2M goes mainstream only once these pieces are fully defined, Singh said, adding that so far, only BSNL and Viasat have run approved D2D trials.

Furthermore, on chipsets, she added that D2M phones will mainly use 3GPP NTN platforms from Qualcomm, MediaTek, and Samsung, with India pushing localisation through NavIC and RF tuning.

“Starlink’s partnership with the government is mostly about boosting rural and border-area connectivity, and it now joins Jio Satellite and OneWeb in the licensed satcom ecosystem,” Singh added.

Will HMD Do It For India?

While most devices today rely on SIM or eSIM connectivity, HMD Global is pioneering Direct-to-Mobile (D2M) technology that allows phones to communicate directly with satellites, enabling emergency messaging and voice calls even in areas with limited network coverage.

HMD has already deployed these devices in some Western markets, though regulatory frameworks have delayed their introduction in India. 

Ravi Kunwar, CEO at HMD Global India, told AIM that the technology may not be limited to smartphones. “We are piloting a ‘Direct-to-Mobile technology’ with our partners, which could be brought into a feature phone as well.”

Indian consumers will have to wait before they can access sat phones, said Kanwar, adding, “It’s more of a policy issue.” 

“I do believe the government is working to open this [D2M tech] up, and as and when it’s open, the hardware technology exists with us, so we can work on that,” he claimed.

However, mainstream adoption of D2M tech in India, despite being promising for various sectors, faces challenges, according to Aditya Khaitan, partner at Deloitte. 

Direct-to-satellite connectivity is restricted in India to certain government and licensed services. Compatible devices are expensive, and call charges can start at around ₹100 per minute, Khaitan said. 

“Given India’s saturated mobile market and low tariffs, mobile subscribers are unlikely to pay a premium for this connectivity. Its value proposition is global coverage—it is unlikely to replace terrestrial networks, rather complement them,” he added.

Khaitan said that the broader adoption would require regulatory and policy changes, including updates to the Global Mobile Personal Communications by Satellite (GMPCS) framework, spectrum allocation, and enhanced security and data sovereignty measures. 

Currently, the telecommunications department (DoT) is set to approach the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) for guidance on a regulatory framework for direct-to-device (D2D) satellite communication services. 

This is intended to expand mobile connectivity to even the most remote regions of India. The proposed framework is expected to address key aspects such as pricing, spectrum allocation, and the technical requirements necessary for effective service deployment, according to reports.

“Telecom providers, in partnership with satellite communication operators, would need to evolve new business models to make services commercially viable beyond emergency use,” he said.

Industries that could benefit from commercialisation include the public sector, especially the armed forces, as well as mining, energy, transportation, and agriculture. 

“Integration of terrestrial and direct-to-satellite connectivity could offer flexible pricing for enterprises and unlock connectivity in remote regions,” Khaitan noted.

HMD has been tracking several emerging trends for 2026-27, including foldable and flexible displays, ultra-wide bands with eSIM, and AI-powered chips, said Kunwar. “Our devices will be eco-friendly, more modular, more repairable, and aligned with the right-to-repair philosophy,” he added.

India’s unique advantage lies in its deep engineering and STEM talent pool, enabling HMD to design, test, and develop devices domestically for global markets. Products like the Vibe 5G and Touch 4G are fully designed in India for global export.  

“By following the China-plus-one strategy, we are basing teams in India for ID creation and camera design to devise products that meet global requirements, including operator compliance in Western markets,” Kunwar said.

HMD is also leveraging India as a hub for AI-driven R&D. “Before A is H, Human Mobile Devices. Whatever use case is termed as AI must have a meaningful impact on the end consumer,” Kunwar emphasised. 

Current AI implementations include real-time multilingual translation, camera optimisation, and battery prediction features, with future plans to integrate on-device generated content and ChatGPT-powered functionalities.

The Make in India initiative is central to HMD’s growth strategy. “Making a product in India allows us to be globally competitive, thanks to the excellent PLI policy. Almost 95% of our products are manufactured locally, enabling exports to the Middle East and Africa,” Kunwar noted. 

The government’s Component Linked Policy (Phase Two) further incentivises local production of electronic components, supporting HMD’s ambition to deepen India’s manufacturing ecosystem.

With regulatory support, innovative R&D, and global technology expertise, India is poised to become a major hub for next-generation mobile innovation, potentially making satellite-connected phones a reality for both consumers and enterprises.

On the demand side, once permitted commercially, operators are expected to integrate terrestrial and satellite connectivity to offer flexible, context-driven pricing models for enterprises. 

Sectors with remote operations, including mining, energy, transportation, and agriculture, stand to benefit significantly, Khaitan added.

Khaitan emphasised that public sector agencies, especially the armed forces, would benefit immensely from such commercialisation. Enhanced satellite reach would also expand connectivity across India’s hinterland, unlocking a wide range of sector-specific use cases.

The post Is India on the Verge of Satellite Phones Adoption? appeared first on Analytics India Magazine.

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