A senior company official said that Tata Group satellite services firm Nelco had withdrawn its application to provide personal satellite communications services to consumers in the country and plans to apply for a new license under the new space policy.

Nelco has withdrawn its earlier application to the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) for a Global Mobile Personal Satellite Communications (GMPCS) license.

The company plans to apply for the relevant license after completing the outline of the new space policy.

“The company has all the licenses required to provide all satellite services allowed in the country, and the company will apply for the relevant licenses after passing the outline of the new space policy and the results of the consultation paper presented by the telecom regulator Trai,” said Nelco, MD and CEO PJ Nath told PTI on Wednesday.

Currently, the GMPCS license allows the licensee to provide satellite phone services in India.

Nath further said that companies are entering new segments as regulations open up.

The Indian Space Policy 2023, approved by the Indian cabinet last week, seeks to institutionalise private sector participation in the space sector, with ISRO focusing on research and development of advanced space technologies.

Currently, Nelco provides in-flight and sea-based services to corporate customers via satellite and satellite-based communications through VSAT and other licenses.

“The DoT has clarified that with our VSAT licence, we can address land mobility for cars, buses, etc. Technically, in any market, we want to address today, we can do it without the current licence,” he said.

Nath said the new space policy had been announced, and details of the policy are expected to be released within a week.

“It’s going to be a complete game changer. A lot of regulation will be loosened,” Nath said.

He said that the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has a spectrum consultation paper that could lead to changes in the satellite industry.

“We’re looking at that and then applying for the required permits,” Nath said.