A sense of anticipation is building across India as the country prepares for the commercial debut of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite internet services. This next chapter in India’s digital journey promises a connectivity revolution that will expand broadband access to the remotest corners and redefine how we capture and broadcast content.
LEO constellations from players like Starlink and Eutelsat OneWeb have the potential to bridge India’s deep-rooted digital divide, enable new formats of mobile journalism and sports production, and empower remote communities and creators alike. As broadcast professionals, the time to understand, evaluate, and embrace this technology is now.
LEO satellites – Faster, closer, and more capable
Unlike traditional geostationary (GEO) satellites, which orbit 36,000 kilometres above Earth, LEO satellites operate at altitudes between 500 and 2,000 kilometres. This proximity slashes latency, allowing for near real-time applications critical for remote production and live broadcasting. They form dense constellations, ensuring overlapping coverage and robust availability, even in rural areas.
India, with hundreds of millions of people still lacking reliable internet, presents one of the largest untapped markets for satellite broadband. With the Indian government signalling regulatory readiness through IN-SPACe (Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre) and liberalising policies on gateway infrastructure and spectrum, we’re seeing real momentum.
Strategic partnerships set the stage
Starlink, Eutelsat, and OneWeb are engaging with Indian authorities and preparing to enter the market. These global players are not going it alone. They’re forming partnerships with Indian telcos and innovative technology companies like LiveU to ensure scalable and localised rollouts. This collaborative ecosystem will be essential to driving widespread adoption, particularly in live video transmission for sports and news, where the demand for high-quality, highly reliable connectivity continues to grow.
A hybrid future for India’s broadcasters
For the broadcast and media industry, LEO satellite connectivity is not about replacing terrestrial networks but complementing them. Today’s live production environments are fluid and mobile and often deployed in connectivity blackspots, from disaster zones to remote sports venues. LEO services offer a reliable and rapidly deployable alternative, enabling broadcasters to go live from anywhere.
At LiveU, we’ve integrated Starlink into our Video-over-Bonded-IP (VoBIP) EcoSystem to enhance our powerful hybrid model. Our technology intelligently blends satellite, cellular, WiFi, and Ethernet connections to maintain resilient, low-latency live streams.
Read More at: www.broadcastandcablesat.co.in
