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All you need to know about BSNL’s direct-to-device satellite connectivity service

Satellite connectivity will be a game changer, especially for those who live in remote places.

BSNL satellite connectivity can also be used to make UPI payments. (Representational Image/FreePik)

Wireless networking and connectivity have drastically improved over the last decade. However, it’s still not perfect, and there are many remote, unserviceable locations in India. In such places, installing a cellular tower isn’t financially feasible. State-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), in partnership with Viasat, a US-based satellite communication company, has now come up with a noble solution to this — a direct-to-device satellite connectivity service. BSNL claims this will help improve cellular reception in every nook and corner of the country.

Direct-to-device satellite connectivity isn’t a brand-new technology. In fact, phone makers like Apple and Google have been offering such services for a while, but not in India. BSNL is the first telecom service provider to launch direct satellite connectivity service in India, and here is how it works.

How does it work?

BSNL’s direct-to-device satellite connectivity requires three main components — a smartphone with support for satellite connectivity, a satellite, and a cellular tower. When a phone might not be able to latch onto a nearby cellular tower due to a weaker signal, the smartphone will then connect to a satellite, and the satellite will then send the same signal to the nearby tower, completing the connection.

BSNL launches India’s 1st Satellite-to-Device service!

Seamless connectivity now reaches India’s remotest corners. pic.twitter.com/diNKjaivFo

— DoT India (@DoT_India) November 13, 2024

As per the trials conducted by BSNL, it was able to send and receive text messages via a geostationary L-band satellite that is 36,000 km away from the Earth.

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Unlike some of the direct-to-device satellite connectivity services available in Western countries, which can only be used to send SOS messages to the rescue team, BSNL’s service can also be used to make UPI payments.

Will it work on any smartphone?

This is unlikely as the smartphone will require specialised hardware to establish a connection with a satellite. However, some of the latest Android flagships and iPhones should support BSNL’s direct-to-device satellite connectivity services, and when the service is rolled out to general users, BSNL is likely to share the list of devices compatible with its satellite connectivity service.

Also read | What is Starlink? A complete guide to Elon Musk’s satellite internet revolution

Although the service has been officially announced, BSNL is yet to share more details on how to use the same and if it also requires a special recharge plan.

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