Viasat Explores Strategic Partnerships Across India's Expanding Space Ecosystem
India's rapidly growing prominence within the global space economy is creating significant new opportunities for satellite communications providers. Ben Palmer, the Global President (Commercial) of American satcom leader Viasat, has revealed that the company is actively exploring potential partnerships across the entire Indian space value chain. This includes areas such as launch services, satellite manufacturing, terminal production, and software integration.
India: A Market of 'Energy and Ambition'
In an exclusive interview, Palmer described India as a market fundamentally defined by its "energy and ambition." He pointed to the nation's expanding aviation sector, rising defense and national security requirements, and its deep pool of technology talent as key drivers. Palmer, who has been visiting India for nearly two decades, noted a palpable sense of acceleration and confidence in the country's political and economic trajectory.
"You feel it the moment you get off the plane. There's a buzz. A dynamic, entrepreneurial, ambitious political and economic system," Palmer stated. "India is asserting itself, growing more confident, more forward-looking, and economically powerful."
Viasat has a long history in India, dating back to the nation's role as a founding member of Inmarsat. The company maintains enduring partnerships, including with BSNL, and sees the expanding middle class and sophisticated defense needs as ideal conditions for a forward-looking satcom provider.
The Future is Hybrid: Navigating LEO Competition
As competition intensifies from global low-earth orbit (LEO) satcom players like SpaceX's Starlink and Eutelsat OneWeb, Palmer argues that the industry's future lies in hybrid satellite networks. These networks would seamlessly combine different orbital technologies—such as GEO (geostationary orbit) and LEO—to deliver optimal connectivity.
"There was a false debate around LEO versus GEO — as if it had to be one, or the other. In reality, customers will increasingly benefit from hybrid services," Palmer explained. "LEO does some things very well. GEO does others very well. The future is orchestration and integration."
He welcomes the competitive pressure, noting that it pushes the industry to innovate. Viasat is focusing on integrating services to deliver compelling end-to-end value for aviation, maritime, enterprise, and government use cases, building on its existing strong base in India across these sectors.
Exploring Direct-to-Device and Sovereign Capabilities
A key area of exploration is direct-to-device (D2D) connectivity, which Palmer clarifies is not intended to replace terrestrial networks but to augment them, filling coverage gaps. This initiative will require collaboration with handset makers, chipmakers, and mobile operators, leveraging 3GPP standards.
"Like fiber doesn't go everywhere because it's not economically viable, non-terrestrial networks can fill the last 5% coverage gap," he said. The vision is seamless connectivity without dropped calls as users move between terrestrial and satellite coverage, starting initially with emergency services.
Palmer also highlighted discussions about repackaging advanced satellite technology into smaller, more cost-effective sovereign capabilities, which could align with India's "Make in India" priorities and serve both national security and rural broadband needs.
Partnerships Across the Value Chain and Talent Hub
Viasat's partnership exploration is comprehensive, spanning launch solutions, high-quality manufacturing at scale, and innovative terminal and software integration. The company is engaging with both young entrepreneurs and established Indian companies known for high-end precision work.
"We're open to the full spectrum — from procurement to strategic partnership," Palmer noted, adding that it is too early for specific announcements. He also emphasized India's role as a critical talent hub, with Viasat already employing around 300 people in the country across software and systems engineering.
Regarding the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Viasat has coordinated satellites and acquired capacity through ISRO's commercial arm, NewSpace India Limited, primarily to support in-flight connectivity. The company is in early discussions about potential launch collaborations from India, evaluating economic and technological feasibility.
As India's space economy accelerates, Viasat's exploratory stance underscores the strategic importance of the market and the evolving, collaborative future of global satellite communications.
