Satellite communication technology will be central to the success of India’s 5G journey, according to the Broadband India Forum (BIF), which has urged policymakers and industry players to integrate Satcom more deeply into the country’s digital infrastructure plans.
The industry think tank released a white paper titled “Satellites for 5G & Rural Connectivity” during its latest Digital Dialogues session, underscoring the sector’s role in bridging coverage gaps, strengthening resilience, and enabling future use cases.
Satellites as 5G Enablers
BIF President T.V. Ramachandran highlighted that satellites would no longer remain on the periphery of communications technology but emerge as a mainstream component of 5G ecosystems.
“Satellite communication will be critical not just for providing ubiquitous coverage, disaster recovery and rural connectivity, but also for supporting advanced use cases in aerospace, maritime, agriculture, and IoT,” Ramachandran said.
He noted that India’s backhaul capacity needs are set to grow exponentially. Current estimates suggest a requirement of nearly 2 terabytes for backhaul capacity alone, which would demand almost 20 times the present Satcom capacity.
Bridging Gaps and Expanding Coverage
Satcom integration can help mobile network operators extend services to regions that are difficult or uneconomical to reach with terrestrial networks. This is especially important for rural and remote areas where 5G rollout might otherwise be delayed.
Satellites also provide resilience to terrestrial networks by easing congestion during peak demand. Their ability to cover vast geographies makes them a natural complement to dense urban 5G deployments, creating a more balanced and reliable ecosystem.
The IoT and Consumer Impact
With billions of devices expected to connect under the Internet of Things (IoT) framework, many of them in remote locations, satellites will be essential for backhauling sensor and machine-to-machine (M2M) data. Advancements in bandwidth efficiency and consumer terminal design could lower costs and make Satcom-based connectivity more accessible.
Standardization will be key, BIF emphasized, calling for universal interfaces between ground stations, satellites, and user terminals to enhance affordability and interoperability.
Ramachandran concluded that strengthening Satcom would ultimately improve the consumer experience by expanding application choices, ensuring consistent service quality, and accelerating the benefits of India’s 5G rollout.
