Tech giant Apple has suggested avoiding any mandatory hardware modifications or component recertification for rolling out direct-to-device (D2D) satellite connectivity within India. In recent communications sent to the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), the iPhone maker emphasized that safeguarding existing terrestrial networks must remain a primary operational priority. The company noted that introducing non-terrestrial configurations must align seamlessly with universal frameworks to prevent disruptive spectrum overlaps.
Google has similarly detailed multiple hardware limitations halting immediate satellite implementation.
According to tech documents filed with the telecom body, the internet giant isolated critical hardware constraints, including limited mobile battery capacities, restricted antenna sizes on compact consumer devices, and complex integration patterns with current 4G and 5G nodes. Experts argue that without minor device variations or network modifications, maintaining uniform signal strength directly from low-Earth orbit satellites remains highly challenging for mainstream smartphones. Furthermore, ensuring cross-border compliance with nations that do not authorize open satellite communication remains a complex geopolitical barrier for manufacturers.
Consequently, the majority of industrial stakeholders have recommended that the Indian government pause the notification of specific D2D spectrum bands until the broader tech ecosystem matures. Widespread international coordination is expected to pick up pace following the International Telecommunication Union’s upcoming World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-27), scheduled to be held in late 2027 in China. Regulators are currently evaluating whether to assign dedicated mobile satellite service frequencies or utilize existing airwaves to establish ubiquitous connectivity without disrupting ground-based carrier infrastructure.
