Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), in collaboration with Tata-owned Nelco, has launched a satellite phone priced at ₹1,34,166, designed for communication independent of terrestrial networks and targeting government agencies, maritime operators, and disaster response teams. This move diversifies BSNL's revenue and aims to tap into a niche, high-margin retail segment, building on its prior entry into the Global Satellite Phone Service (GSPS) market in 2018. The device, which requires explicit Department of Telecommunications (DoT) authorization for purchase and is not available through regular retail channels, is positioned as a premium solution rather than a common smartphone replacement, and this partnership also offers Nelco an opportunity to expand beyond its VSAT business into new customer segments requiring satellite voice connectivity.

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), in collaboration with Tata-owned Nelco, has launched a satellite phone priced at ₹1,34,166, designed for communication independent of terrestrial networks and targeting government agencies, maritime operators, and disaster response teams. This move diversifies BSNL's revenue and aims to tap into a niche, high-margin retail segment, building on its prior entry into the Global Satellite Phone Service (GSPS) market in 2018. The device, which requires explicit Department of Telecommunications (DoT) authorization for purchase and is not available through regular retail channels, is positioned as a premium solution rather than a common smartphone replacement, and this partnership also offers Nelco an opportunity to expand beyond its VSAT business into new customer segments requiring satellite voice connectivity.

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), in collaboration with Tata-owned Nelco, has launched a satellite phone priced at ₹1,34,166, designed for communication independent of terrestrial networks and targeting government agencies, maritime operators, and disaster response teams. This move diversifies BSNL's revenue and aims to tap into a niche, high-margin retail segment, building on its prior entry into the Global Satellite Phone Service (GSPS) market in 2018. The device, which requires explicit Department of Telecommunications (DoT) authorization for purchase and is not available through regular retail channels, is positioned as a premium solution rather than a common smartphone replacement, and this partnership also offers Nelco an opportunity to expand beyond its VSAT business into new customer segments requiring satellite voice connectivity.

In an unexpected move, the state-owned telecommunication provider Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has launched a satellite phone that allows communication independent of terrestrial cell towers. Partnering with the Tata-owned Nelco, a major satellite communication group (SATCOM) in India, the product diversifies the revenue segments of both companies.

Priced at ₹1,34,166 (inclusive of all taxes), the phone is as expensive as the latest iPhone 17 Pro Max. While features like emergency calling and long-lasting battery life have been highlighted by the company, the unique selling point of the product is its satellite communication. It targets users from government agencies, maritime operators, and disaster response teams, where conventional mobile networks alone do not suffice or are unreachable.

Before branching out to hardware, the company had entered this niche satellite service market segment in 2018, when the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) issued an order allowing BSNL to offer Global Satellite Phone Service (GSPS) in a partnership with Inmarsat. Through this, they offer satellite phone plans that start at around ₹3,500.

The average pricing for satellite phones in India ranges from ₹45,500 to ₹2.5 lakh, with brands like Thuraya on the lower end and Iridium Extreme on the higher end. In the mid-range, at around ₹90,000, products like Inmarsat IsatPhone 2 dominate the market.


BSNL's new launch is priced on the higher end, indicating that this is not intended to replace the common smartphone but rather to enter a completely new retail segment that will allow a stable, high-margin revenue cycle.


The partnership could also reduce Nelco's dependence on its traditional Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) business servicing banks and give it access to newer enterprises and government customers that require satellite-voice connectivity.


Strict regulations exist in the case of these phones, and explicit authorisation is required from the DoT to purchase the device. The phone is not sold through regular retail stores.

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