Overview
- India’s telecom ministry is consulting industry on direct-to-device links that let phones connect to satellites when mobile towers are out of reach.
- Apple told officials it wants no forced hardware redesigns or fresh certifications for satellite features in India.
- The company also warned about cross-border regulatory snags in places where satellite services are not yet allowed.
- Google outlined hurdles such as heavy battery use, small-antenna limits, weak signals, and difficult integration with 4G and 5G networks.
- Rules and spectrum plans are still open, with TRAI seeking views as pilots abroad, including Starlink’s work with T-Mobile, show promise but a multi-year path to scale.