DoT hands out first Flight and Maritime Connectivity License to Hughes Communications

As a milestone achievement for Hughes Communications India Ltd (HCIL), the majority-owned subsidiary of broadband networks and services provider, Hughes Network Systems LLC, has received a Flight and Maritime Connectivity (FMC) license from the Department of Telecommunications, Government of India. With this grant, Hughes becomes the first company to be granted the FMC license in India and is now authorized to provide in-flight connectivity and high-quality broadband services to Indian and foreign airlines.

As the first company to be granted the FMC license in India, HCIL will now be able to provide in-flight connectivity and high-quality broadband services to Indian and foreign airlines and shipping companies operating within Indian territory. HCIL has already set up a base mobility platform and is in discussion to enhance the services in India.

“HCIL is proud to be the first company to receive the Flight and Maritime Connectivity license in India, which is a natural extension of having been at the forefront of offering breakthrough technologies and services over the past two decades,” said Partho Banerjee, President & Managing Director at Hughes Communications India Ltd.

The FMC license has been granted for a period of 10 years, and HCIL says that the company will pay spectrum charges based on revenue earned from providing these services, which can be delivered using both satellites and telecom networks on the ground. HCIL will provide FMC services in India operating over domestic and foreign satellites permitted by the Department of Space.