Viasat boosts Indian presence amid Starlink's entry
BSNL and US-based Viasat have teamed up to bring India its first direct-to-device satellite messaging service.
Now, even if you're far from cell towers—think mountains or deep forests—you can still send and receive messages, thanks to satellites orbiting 36,000km above Earth.
No mobile network? No problem!
The service uses Viasat's geostationary satellites, so you don't need a mobile network to message or send an SOS.
It's handy for emergencies, remote adventures, or even industrial uses.
Google Pixel users can directly connect; others need small device
If you have a Google Pixel phone, you're all set—just connect directly.
For other phones, there's a small external device ("puck") that costs under ₹8,000.
BSNL and Viasat plan to upgrade this to offer full internet access soon.
What's the difference between Starlink and BSNL-Viasat?
Viasat focuses on messaging and safety using geostationary satellites (great for aviation and maritime), while Starlink offers fast broadband via low-earth orbit satellites aimed at rural users.
With this launch, BSNL-Viasat is giving India early access to satellite messaging before Starlink fully rolls out here.