Summary:
India has an estimated ₹1 lakh crore annual digital connectivity opportunity, according to BIF President TV Ramachandran, with satellite communication potentially helping connect more than 50 crore people in rural and remote areas who lack broadband access. He also highlighted satcom’s potential to support agriculture through IoT-based monitoring and improve connectivity for businesses operating in underserved rural regions.
India has a digital connectivity opportunity estimated at ₹1 lakh crore annually, which could largely be addressed through satellite communication services, according to Broadband India Forum (BIF) President TV Ramachandran.
Speaking on the sidelines of the 10th edition of India Satcom 2026, Ramachandran said an analysis of Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) data indicates that more than 50 crore people, mainly in rural and remote areas, remain without broadband access.
He said the current opportunity could be worth at least ₹1 lakh crore per year even when considering the lower average revenue per user (ARPU) in rural areas. According to him, many of these people remain unconnected because terrestrial networks have not reached their locations, making satellite communication a suitable way to extend connectivity.
Ramachandran also highlighted the potential of satellite connectivity in agriculture. He noted that 60 to 70 per cent of India’s population depends on agriculture, while conventional network deployment in agricultural fields is often not commercially viable. Satellite connectivity could support the use of IoT technologies across farms, enabling agricultural data to be collected and monitored to help improve productivity and yields.
He further said satellite communication could provide reliable connectivity for private businesses operating in rural regions. Companies establishing factories in such areas could benefit from available labour and use satellite-based connectivity where terrestrial networks are limited.
Speaking at the event, Department of Telecommunications Member (Finance) Manish Sinha also addressed the gathering.
