BSNL and Viasat Advance Indian Navy’s SATCOM Modernization Program

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and Viasat, Inc. a global leader in satellite communications, today announced they are supporting the next phase of the Indian Navy’s satellite communications upgrade program, set to begin later this month.

Under an agreement signed between BSNL and the Indian Defense Forces, Viasat’s high-capacity Ka-band satellite systems will be used alongside its existing L-band infrastructure to deliver enhanced, resilient, and secure connectivity for Indian naval platforms. Viasat’s international government team will support this program under the company’s Communication Services segment.

This program will enable the Indian Navy to transition toward a multi-band, multi-constellation SATCOM strategy, leveraging BSNL’s Gateway Earth Station and Viasat’s global satellite network to provide expanded coverage, higher throughput, and improved reliability for mission-critical operations.

Viasat continues to be a longstanding technology partner to the Government of India — delivering strategic satellite communication services across multiple sectors. These include supporting disaster response networks, tsunami early warning systems through the National Institute of Ocean Technology, and vessel tracking and monitoring for the Directorate General of Shipping. Viasat also provides aeronautical connectivity for both private and government aircraft in India.

As this new phase begins, BSNL and Viasat reaffirm their shared commitment to supporting India’s defense and maritime communication modernization.

Robert Ravi, Chairman and Managing Director, BSNL, said: "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.” 

Gautam Sharma, Managing Director, Viasat India, said: “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.”

Todd McDonell, President, International Government, Viasat, said: “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.”