Now Reading: Singtel seeks FDI nod to sell satellite bandwidth directly in India
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Singtel seeks FDI nod to sell satellite bandwidth directly in India
Singapore-based telecom firm Singtel has applied for foreign direct investment (FDI) approval to sell satellite bandwidth directly to direct-to-home (DTH) service providers in India, industry sources said. The company currently provides satellite…
Singapore-based telecom firm Singtel has applied for foreign direct investment (FDI) approval to sell satellite bandwidth directly to direct-to-home (DTH) service providers in India, industry sources said. The company currently provides satellite capacity to Dish TV through state-owned NewSpace India Ltd.
Singtel said it has been serving a DTH provider in India for over 15 years via a designated government agency. Following recent changes to India's space policy allowing greater private sector participation, Singtel is seeking approvals for its Indian subsidiary, Singapore Telecom India Private Ltd, to supply capacity directly. Dish TV said it welcomes the policy shift and hopes Singtel obtains the necessary clearances.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The FDI approval Singtel seeks falls under India's liberalised space sector policy, announced in 2023, which opened satellite manufacturing and operations to private players. Until now, foreign satellite operators had to route bandwidth through Antrix Corporation or NewSpace India, the commercial arms of ISRO. If approved, Singtel's direct model could lower costs and reduce intermediation for DTH firms like Dish TV, which has over 15 million subscribers. The Department of Space and the Foreign Investment Promotion Board will decide on the application. A precedent exists: OneWeb, now part of Bharti Group, received FDI clearance for satellite broadband in 2021. The government's decision on Singtel will signal how far it is willing to open the space sector to foreign ownership.
Source: telecom.economictimes.indiatimes.com
This brief was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
