In a move aimed at advancing India’s next phase of digital and AI-led transformation, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has partnered with global satellite communications company Viasat to develop satellite-powered infrastructure supporting AI-driven drone operations. The collaboration, which brings together public sector expertise and private innovation, focuses on expanding connectivity and enabling large-scale deployment of autonomous aerial systems in remote and underserved regions.
The partnership is designed to address two of India’s biggest technology challenges: last-mile connectivity and intelligent automation. By combining BSNL’s terrestrial network coverage with Viasat’s high-speed satellite capabilities, the alliance will create an integrated ecosystem for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and AI-enabled applications across multiple industries, including agriculture, defense, logistics, and disaster management.
According to both companies, the alliance will leverage Viasat’s advanced satellite internet technology and BSNL’s 4G and upcoming 5G infrastructure to support real-time data exchange for drones operating in diverse environments. This integration will allow AI systems embedded within drones to perform advanced analytics, terrain mapping, surveillance, and emergency response tasks even in low-connectivity areas.
The initiative comes at a time when the Indian government is accelerating its efforts to build a national framework for AI, robotics, and drone technology under the Digital India and Make in India missions. Industry experts believe that satellite-aided drone operations will play a critical role in improving logistics networks, enabling precision agriculture, and enhancing rural healthcare delivery through remote monitoring and rapid response systems.
A BSNL official noted that this partnership reflects India’s growing emphasis on combining AI and satellite communication to create scalable, inclusive technology solutions. “We are committed to driving innovation that extends the benefits of connectivity beyond urban centres. AI-powered drones backed by robust satellite networks will redefine how critical services reach rural and remote regions,” the official said.
Viasat, a U.S.-based satellite technology leader, brings to the table its experience in deploying high-capacity broadband networks across continents. The company has been expanding its footprint in Asia to support emerging applications that require secure, low-latency communication. Its collaboration with BSNL will focus on creating an end-to-end satellite infrastructure optimized for India’s evolving AI ecosystem.
Mark Dankberg, Chairman and CEO of Viasat, highlighted that the partnership aligns with the company’s vision of connecting the unconnected and advancing intelligent automation. “Our collaboration with BSNL represents a significant step in delivering intelligent connectivity solutions that can power the next generation of AI-driven operations, from smart agriculture to national security,” he said in a statement.
The use of satellite connectivity is seen as particularly transformative for drone operations that require stable communication links over wide geographic areas. Traditional cellular networks often struggle to provide consistent coverage across rural or mountainous terrains, which limits the deployment of advanced UAV systems. The BSNL-Viasat collaboration aims to overcome these barriers by providing resilient satellite backhaul for command-and-control functions, enabling long-range autonomous operations.
Industry observers believe that this initiative could serve as a template for how telecom and aerospace companies collaborate to enable India’s AI ambitions. As demand for drone services grows — from crop monitoring and delivery services to environmental surveillance — the need for reliable, AI-ready infrastructure is becoming increasingly critical.
The project also emphasizes security and compliance, as both partners plan to work within India’s regulatory frameworks for satellite communication and drone operations. Experts expect that the partnership will lead to pilot deployments over the next year, followed by commercial-scale rollouts aligned with the government’s AI and digital transformation roadmaps.
The collaboration is expected to catalyze innovation within India’s drone startups and defense sectors, providing a platform for testing and scaling new AI-driven aerial technologies. Companies developing machine learning algorithms for object detection, navigation, and risk assessment could benefit significantly from access to high-speed satellite networks.
Additionally, the integration of AI with satellite communications could redefine how India manages emergencies. In disaster response scenarios, AI-powered drones could be deployed to assess damage, locate survivors, and deliver essential supplies in areas cut off by floods, landslides, or earthquakes. The availability of reliable satellite connectivity ensures uninterrupted communication between command centers and field units during such operations.
From an economic perspective, experts say that this partnership marks a strategic shift in India’s approach to AI infrastructure. Instead of focusing solely on urban innovation clusters, the initiative extends the scope of digital transformation to rural India, where connectivity and data access have traditionally been limited. This could open new business opportunities in logistics, energy, and rural development sectors, as satellite-linked drones become tools for agricultural optimization, infrastructure inspection, and supply chain management.
Globally, AI-driven drone ecosystems are expanding rapidly, with the market projected to surpass $60 billion by 2030. India’s entry into this domain through collaborations like BSNL and Viasat positions it as a key player in shaping the global drone economy.
Analysts suggest that the BSNL-Viasat initiative also complements India’s broader AI infrastructure efforts, including Reliance’s recent plans for large-scale data centres and the government’s AI Mission initiatives. Together, these developments are setting the stage for a more connected, intelligent India — one where AI and connectivity merge to solve complex challenges across geographies.
As the collaboration progresses, both companies are expected to expand their partnerships with Indian technology firms, research institutions, and regulatory bodies to ensure safe, ethical, and scalable AI drone deployment.
With its combination of telecom expertise and satellite technology, the BSNL-Viasat alliance underscores how AI can drive innovation not only in cities but also across India’s heartland — bringing smarter connectivity, sustainable growth, and new opportunities to millions.