Airtel arm Indo Teleports to offer inflight connectivity services

The telecom department (DoT) has issued an authorisation certificate to Indo Teleports Ltd, a Bharti Airtel arm, to provide inflight and maritime connectivity and broadband services on domestic and foreign airlines using satellite systems.

“Indo Teleports Ltd is permitted to provide IFMC service as per licences held by its parenting licensee(s), in accordance to Flight & Maritime Connectivity Rules, 2018,” the DoT said in a notification, dated April 3, a copy of which was seen by ET.

The DoT though has said all foreign personnel likely to be engaged by Indo Teleports for installation, operation and maintenance of IFMC service, “shall have to be security cleared by the home ministry before deployment”.

Indo Teleports sets up and operates hubs for TV broadcasters to beam their channels to satellites for transmission. The company, formerly Bharti Teleports Ltd, was floated in 2008.

Hughes Communications India Ltd., a VSAT service provider, became the first company in India to get a permit in February to offer connectivity and data services on airlines and ships. Last month, Tatanet Services Ltd (TNSL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nelco Ltd, also bagged a permit from DoT to operate IFMC services.

DoT had notified the Indian Flight & Maritime Connectivity Rules, 2018, in December, paving the way for flyers and seafarers to use the internet and make calls. Research firm Euroconsult estimates that over 23,000 commercial aircraft will offer connectivity to passengers by 2027, up from 7,400 aircraft in 2017.