BSNL launches new satellite phone at ₹1.34 lakh in India, says 'ideal for remote ops': All you need to know

State-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) on Thursday unveiled a satellite phone priced at ₹1.34 lakh, as it looks to strengthen satellite communication services for users in the defence, maritime and disaster management sectors.

Announcing the launch on social media, the telecom operator said the handset costs ₹1,34,166, inclusive of all taxes. Designed to function in rugged and remote locations, the satellite phone supports voice calling and SMS services in areas where conventional cellular networks are unavailable, it mentioned.

What did BSNL say?

"When conventional mobile networks can't reach, the BSNL Satellite Phone keeps you connected. Designed for challenging environments, making it an ideal solution for Defence, Maritime, Disaster Response, Mining, Remote Operations and Adventure Travel," the BSNL social media post said. It also attached an image showing the price of a satellite phone.

BSNL stated that interested customers can contact their nearest BSNL office for more information and also shared a mobile number in its social media post.

However, the listed number was reportedly unresponsive. Reacting to the post on X, a verified user commented, "As Always. No one is responding to the above Given Number."

An email seeking clarification from BSNL did not receive an immediate response, said PTI.

According to an official statement issued in February, BSNL has been offering voice calling and SMS services through its Global Satellite Phone Service (GSPS) to the general public and private enterprises since 1 January 2018.

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) laid down guidelines on 12 June 2017, governing the provision of satellite-based communication services, as per an official statement issued on 11 February. As per these instructions, BSNL is required to complete the prescribed customer acquisition process applicable to mobile connections, with updates incorporated as and when the norms are revised.

"BSNL shall also obtain from the subscriber the details such as place of use, period of use and the purpose for which satellite handset shall be used. Additionally, the GSPS service is inherently a secure communication as information is transferred in encrypted form," the statement mentioned.

BSNL's satellite phone plans

BSNL reportedly offered postpaid satellite phone plans for government and commercial users at monthly charges of ₹3,500, ₹5,835 and ₹11,670, with each plan including 16, 30 and 60 minutes of free talk time or SMS, respectively.

According to the statement, BSNL's prepaid satellite phone plans for government entities are priced at ₹3,500 per month, which includes 20 minutes of free talk time, or ₹38,500 annually with 240 free minutes. For commercial users, the plans cost ₹5,835 per month with 30 free talk minutes, or ₹64,185 per year with 360 free minutes.

After the complimentary usage is exhausted, government entities are billed ₹18 per minute or SMS, while commercial subscribers are charged ₹25 per minute or SMS.

The statement also noted that prepaid users can purchase additional talk time through top-up vouchers available in denominations of ₹200, ₹500, ₹1,000, ₹5,000 and ₹10,000.