Lok Sabha Question No. 1560 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-07-29
Subject: Satellite Phones
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: RAJEEV SHANKARRAO SATAV, HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT, T. RADHAKRISHNAN, SUPRIYA SADANAND SULE, VIJAYSINH MOHITE PATIL, DHANANJAY BHIMRAO MAHADIK

**GOVERNMENT OF INDIA**

**MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY**

**DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS**

**LOK SABHA**

**UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1560**

**TO BE ANSWERED ON 29** **TH** **JULY, 2015**

**Satellite Phones**

**1560.	SHRI SATAV RAJEEV:**

**DR. HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT:**

**SHRI T. RADHAKRISHNAN:**

**SHRIMATI SUPRIYA SULE:**

**`	SHRI MOHITE PATIL VIJAYSINH**

**SHANKARRAO:**

**SHRI DHANANJAY MAHADIK:**

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:

(a) 	the details of authorized satellite phone connection operating within the country, State-wise;

(b) 	whether satellites based telecom services in India are provided by international operators without an earth station in the country which may pose a national security threat, if so, the details thereof;

(c)	 whether the Department of Telecommunication has given the initial nod to Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) for establishment of a satellite communication gateway in India;

(d)	 if so, the details thereof and whether any private/foreign company has been involved in this venture; and

(e) 	if so, the details thereof along with  the funds required and allocated for the purpose?

ANSWER

**THE MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY**

**(SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD)**

(a)	 Madam, Total 353 Satellite phones (348 ISAT Pro and 5 BGAN) have been authorised by Department of Telecommunications to operate in the country. The details are enclosed in **Annexure-I** .

(b) 	The services to these Satellite phones are being taken from INMARSAT in India, who is an international operator & service provider for INMARSAT based Satellite phones. The permission for use of satellite phone service, provided by an International operator, have been granted primarily to various security agencies to cater the security requirements and for disaster management purpose, based on the recommendations of Ministry of Home Affairs after examining security concerns, if any.

(c) & (d) 	The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has granted a License for “Provision & Operation of Satellite based services using gateway installed in India” to M/s Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) under *‘sui- generis’* category with all India service area on non exclusive basis. M/s INMARSAT is the technology partner for supply, Installation, and Testing of Satellite equipment.

(e) 	DoT has granted administrative approval for financial support for apparatus, plant and related items limiting to $ 8 million (US dollar eight million) through budgetary resources. As on date Rs. 5 crore has been provided to M/s BSNL for execution of project.

Contd…2/-

-2-

**Annexure-I**

**Details of Satellite phones authorized by DoT to operate in Indi** a.

| **S.No**   | **Agency**               | **Purpose**   | **No of Terminals**   | **Type of Satellite Phones**   |
|------------|--------------------------|---------------|-----------------------|--------------------------------|
|            | Andhra Pradesh Police    | Security      | 19                    | ISAT Pro                       |
|            | U.P. State Police        | Security      | 7                     | ISAT Pro                       |
|            | Jharkhand State Police   | Security      | 50                    | ISAT Pro                       |
|            | Chhattisgarh Police      | Security      | 75                    | ISAT Pro                       |
|            | CRPF                     | Security      | 98                    | ISAT Pro                       |
|            | ITBP                     | Security      | 40                    | ISAT Pro                       |
|            | ITBP                     | Security      | 5                     | BGAN                           |
|            | MEA                      | Security      | 5                     | ISAT Pro                       |
|            | SPG                      | Security      | 4                     | ISAT Pro                       |
|            | MHA, Disaster Management | Disaster      | 50                    | ISAT Pro                       |
|            | **Total**                |               | **353**               |                                |

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