Viasat partners with BSNL towards connectivity solutions for uncrewed aircraft

Viasat has announced a partnership with BSNL to commercialise Viasat’s Velaris satellite connectivity solutions for uncrewed aircraft, that allows for beyond visible line of sight (BVLOS) operations, and supports India’s emerging low-altitude economy. The service allows for seamless integration of uncrewed aircrafts alongside traditional crewed aircraft in commercial space, and leverages the global network of L-band satellites operated by Viasat for safety-critical applications. The announcement was made at the India International Space Conclave (IISC) 2025 organised by the Indian Space Association (ISpA), an industry body to platform the voices of private sector companies in India working in the space domain.

Viasat India Managing Director Gautam Sharma said, "We are excited to launch the Velaris solution to support India’s growing low-altitude economy, encompassing unmanned aerial vehicles and advanced air mobility like air ambulances. This connectivity will ensure secure command and control for critical operations, including infrastructure monitoring and emergency services. We are also partnering with Indian startups and BSNL to build a strong and innovative ecosystem for this emerging sector.”

Wide range of potential applications

The capabilities for operating beyond the limitations of standard line of sight operations, where the operator can always see the drone is required for more advanced use cases such as surveillance and delivery. BVLOS operations requires a sophisticated suite of technologies on the drone including long-range telemetry, GPS, and instruments to ensure safe navigation and control from a distance. The telemetry system continuously transmit information such as altitude, speed, orientation and position back to the pilot, with cameras providing a realtime video feed. GPS is essential for tracking the precise location of the drone, but it may be necessary at times to operate in the absence of GPS signals. The technology can also benefit satellites in low-Earth and ultra-low Earth orbit.