Today’s telecom news includes announcements on Eutelsat OneWeb, Make in India rules, $1 billion telecom infrastructure in Nigeria, among others.
Eutelsat to Power UK Government Operations Worldwide with New LEO Satellite Connectivity
Eutelsat OneWeb will deliver low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite connectivity for UK government operations worldwide. The service, provided through partner NSSLGlobal, supports diplomatic missions, defence, policing, and emergency response. It will be used by embassies, consulates, and agencies involved in international and crisis operations. The LEO solution offers high-speed, low-latency connectivity and will integrate with existing geostationary satellite infrastructure. The UK government recently committed €163 million to Eutelsat, securing a stake and strengthening domestic access to satellite networks. The service will also aid the UK’s annual hurricane preparedness programme in the Caribbean.
Indian Telecom Firms Warn of Risks from Proposed Changes to Local Content Rules
Indian telecom companies have raised concerns about the government’s proposed changes to the Public Procurement (Preference to Make in India) (PPP-MII) Order, which sets local content norms for government telecom contracts. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) proposes easing these norms by changing the definition of domestic value addition. Industry participants warn this could reduce India’s role in telecom manufacturing to mainly assembly and discourage local research and intellectual property creation. The government introduced the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for telecom products in 2021 with a ₹12,195 crore budget. The scheme was amended to promote design-led manufacturing with an additional incentive rate. Some telecom products are seeing increased demand as 5G expands. Twenty companies have met FY23 targets and are eligible for incentives totaling about ₹400 crore.
NCC Launches $1 bn Plan to Boost Nigeria’s Broadband and Network Infrastructure
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has introduced measures to monitor a $1 billion telecom infrastructure upgrade aimed at improving service quality. The NCC will hold monthly meetings with mobile network operators to track deployment plans and address challenges. Telecom operators have ordered over $1 billion in network equipment from manufacturers in China to upgrade their infrastructure. The National Broadband Alliance for Nigeria (NBAN) plans to expand internet access by targeting schools, healthcare centers, religious sites, and markets. Goals include increasing broadband penetration from 44 percent in December 2024 to 70 percent by 2025 and providing minimum data speeds of 25 Mbps in urban areas and 10 Mbps in rural areas.
