BSNL, Viasat Partner to Modernise Navy Satcom

• BSNL and Viasat are enhancing the Indian Navy's communications with Ka-band and L-band systems
• The program provides expanded coverage and improved reliability for critical operations
• Viasat continues supporting India's defense, disaster response, and aeronautical connectivity

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and Viasat, Inc. a leading global provider of satellite communications decided to work together for the next step in the upgrading of the Indian Navy's satellite communications which starts this month.

Under the contract with the military, Viasat is to supply its high-capacity Ka-band systems in conjunction with BSNL's L-band system. Communication for different naval platforms will mainly be through these more durable and secure channels.

The upgrade will allow the Navy to implement a multi-band, multi-constellation SATCOM strategy by tapping BSNL's Gateway Earth Station and Viasat's worldwide satellite network.

In this case, the Navy will enjoy wider coverage, faster data transfer, and better reliability for its important operations. The involvement of Viasat in this project will be backed by its communication services team which is composed of government personnel from various countries.

For many years, Viasat has been a reliable partner in technology for the Indian Government and has been providing satellite communication services through different sectors. It has been facilitating various activities such as disaster response, the establishment of early warning systems for tsunamis, and tracking of vessels.

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Besides this, Viasat also supports the connectivity requirements of both private and governmental aircraft in India. With this latest partnership, BSNL and Viasat together strengthen their promise of advancing communication capabilities in the defense and maritime sectors of India.

“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”, stated Robert Ravi, CMD, BSNL.

Gautam Sharma, Managing Director, Viasat India added, “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”.

“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”, noted Todd McDonell, President, International Government, Viasat.