Satellite Operator Sateliot Sets up India Subsidiary; Sees Country as Key LoT Growth Market

European satellite operator, Sateliot, specialising in Low Earth Orbit based narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) connectivity, is eyeing the India opportunity and has recently incorporated a local subsidiary here to tap what it describes as a "key market".

Ethan Mudavanhu, Regulatory Affairs Lead - Asia, Africa and Middle East at Sateliot, said India's IoT devices and connections are projected to grow sharply over the coming years.

He noted that this creates a significant opportunity for satellite IoT to deliver low-cost connectivity to sectors such as agriculture, transport, mining and utilities, provided the regulatory framework fosters this distinct category of services.

It is pertinent to mention here that unlike Starlink and Eutelsat, that primarily target broadband internet access, Sateliot's business model centres on narrowband satellite IoT connectivity for machine-to-machine applications in areas like agriculture, logistics and utilities.

Internet of Things or IoT connects devices and machines to the internet so they can exchange data- think soil sensors on farms, or smart electricity meters.

Mudavanhu said that satellite IoT enables low-cost connectivity for millions of sensors transmitting small amounts of data, and batted for a framework that supports appropriate spectrum pricing approach (reflecting amount of bandwidth being used in such cases, revenues being generated, and the nature of the offering itself), service-specific regulation and a clear separation of network and service layers. He said these factors would be key for expanding the last-mile connectivity for such applications.

The Spain-headquartered company sees India as a priority market, driven by strong growth forecasts for IoT devices, Mudavanhu said.

The company has incorporated an Indian subsidiary and is actively pursuing market entry to offer affordable, standards-based satellite IoT connectivity to industries, critical infrastructure and underserved areas.

"We're a European satellite operator, and we are in over 28 jurisdictions. With regard to India, we actually just recently incorporated our subsidiary here, so India is a key market for us, and we're hoping to really capitalise on the big potential that we're seeing," he told PTI.

Calling India a priority market, he pointed to the country's strong IoT growth potential and rising demand for satellite-enabled connectivity.

"The market is there, the demand too. We just want to aid in developing the right framework, and so India is a priority market for us," he said, adding "we approach this from the lens of a company that is looking to enter the Indian market." In its recent submission to TRAI, the company had said its service is built on 3GPP NB-IoT standards and operates in Mobile Satellite Service (MSS) spectrum bands.

Sateliot provides direct device-to-satellite connectivity enabling sensors, meters, trackers, and other IoT devices to communicate without terrestrial infrastructure, complementing Mobile Network Operators coverage - which positions its service at the intersection of the MSS regulatory framework and the rapidly emerging Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) category.

Speaking at the recent IAFI's Space Policy Conference 2026, Mudavanhu said a level-playing-field in satellite communications would require fair competition for new entrants, a conducive regulatory framework, proportionate compliance obligations, and transparent spectrum access.

"Almost every debate that we have been a part of in the Indian ecosystem for the past few years comes back to three questions - how should satellite spectrum be priced; second can we really regulate satellite as a single market, and finally, where should we draw that line between the network and the service layers," he said.

According to the company executive, the framework's design choices would determine who can enter and compete in the market. Mudavanhu pointed out that end user's connectivity should remain the primary focus.

Both mobile operators and the satellite industry have voiced legitimate arguments on spectrum pricing and allocation, he said and added that while telcos cite their costly mobile spectrum, the satcom firms argue for administrative assignment due to spectrum-sharing approach and rural, and tough-terrain connectivity needs. He said the solution lies in a proportionate framework rather than favouring either side.

In case of narrowband IoT, he said, an operator like Sateliot requires only a small amount of spectrum and transmits tiny data packets, making their spectrum and economic requirements fundamentally different from broadband satellite constellations.

"We sell tiny messages, sometimes only a few bytes every hour, not gigabytes of video...the economics simply are not the same. So pricing shouldn't try to force parity between fundamentally different services. It should reflect the bandwidth being used, the revenues being generated, and the nature of the service itself," he advocated.

He emphasised that satellite communications should not be viewed as a single market, as broadband constellations, VSAT, direct-to-device and narrowband IoT services are distinct businesses with different traffic patterns, economics and interactions with terrestrial networks.

Mudavanhu cautioned that a framework shaped around broadband services could inadvertently disadvantage narrowband IoT.

"In other words, broadband services drive today's discussion, but narrowband IoT becomes tomorrow's unintended casualty," he cautioned.

As per the company, satellite services should be regulated based on service category rather than be treated as a single segment; and narrowband IoT should be recognised as a distinct service requiring proportionate regulation aligned with its unique economics.

He said regulations should clearly separate network infrastructure from service provision, with obligations and responsibilities assigned accordingly. He welcomed India's move towards this approach, saying it would foster innovation, competition and interoperability.