7 months ago
Viasat Seeks Regulatory Clarity for Safe Air Mobility
Viasat is a company that helps with satellite communications.
They want the Indian government to make clear rules so that new types of flying vehicles, like drones and advanced air mobility platforms, can operate safely.
India's airspace is very busy, so it's important to have good communication systems.
Viasat is asking for a specific frequency band, called L-band, to be used for safety and navigation.
They believe this will help both crewed and uncrewed aircraft coexist safely.
Viasat has been talking to different government departments to make this happen.
Viasat emphasizes the need for regulatory clarity to scale advanced air mobility in India's dense airspace.
Gautam Sharma, Managing Director of Viasat India, highlights the importance of satellite communications for safe AAM operations.
Viasat seeks DGCA support to ensure coexistence between crewed and uncrewed aircraft using SATCOM services.
The company is engaging with the Ministry of Communications and WPC Wing to designate L-band as a safety service for AAM.
Viasat appeals to the Civil Aviation Secretary to collaborate with the Department of Telecommunications to formalize L-band usage for safety and navigation.
- Who
- Viasat, a satellite communications service provider, and Gautam Sharma, Managing Director of Viasat India
- What
- Viasat is calling for regulatory clarity and coordinated policy action to safely scale advanced air mobility in India
- Where
- The discussion took place at Wings India 2026, with Viasat engaging with various Indian regulatory bodies
- When
- The statement was made on January 31, 2026, during a roundtable at Wings India 2026
- Why
- To ensure the safe and reliable operation of advanced air mobility in India's dense airspace, Viasat seeks regulatory support for using L-band for safety and navigation purposes
Key facts
- Organization
- Viasat
- Event
- Wings India 2026
- Key Figure
- Gautam Sharma, Managing Director of Viasat India
- Focus Area
- Advanced Air Mobility (AAM)
- Key Technology
- Satellite Communications (SATCOM)
- Frequency Band
- L-band
- Regulatory Bodies
- DGCA, Ministry of Communications, WPC Wing, Department of Telecommunications
Quotes
Gautam Sharma
Managing Director of Viasat India
“When it comes to advanced air mobility, we see significant potential in India. However, there are a few areas where DGCA support will be important. One critical aspect is that Indian airspace is extremely dense.”
thehindubusinessline.com
“Ensuring coexistence between crewed and uncrewed aircraft is essential for safety, and this requires SATCOM services that can support beyond visual line-of-sight operations.”
thehindubusinessline.com
Sources
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