BSNL Launches Satellite Phone Priced At Rs 1.34 Lakh, Costlier Than iPhones

BSNL has launched a new satellite phone in India, priced at Rs 1,34,166 including all taxes, a figure that puts it above the cost of most iPhone models sold in the country. Announced through a post on X , formerly Twitter, the handset is built for connectivity in regions where conventional mobile towers cannot reach, and BSNL has positioned it for defence, maritime, disaster response, mining, remote operations and adventure travel use cases rather than everyday consumers.

The device has been developed in partnership with global satellite communications provider Inmarsat under BSNL's existing Global Satellite Phone Service , or GSPS, which the company has offered since January 2018. Unlike regular smartphones that rely on terrestrial mobile towers, the handset connects directly to satellites, offering encrypted voice calls and SMS through a dedicated satellite gateway located in Ghaziabad , Uttar Pradesh, which includes an integrated legal interception and monitoring system to address domestic security requirements.

Buying the handset is only part of the cost. BSNL has structured separate tariff plans for government and commercial users. Government agencies can opt for Plan G1 at Rs 3,500 a month with 16 minutes of free talktime and SMS, Plan G2 at Rs 5,835 a month with 30 minutes free, or an annual GA plan priced at Rs 38,500 offering 240 minutes free. Commercial users can choose Plan C1 at Rs 11,670 a month with 60 minutes free, or an annual plan priced at Rs 64,185 offering 360 minutes free. Once the free limits are used up, government users are charged Rs 18 per minute or SMS, while commercial users pay Rs 25 per minute or SMS. Prepaid top up vouchers are available in denominations of Rs 200, 500, 1,000, 5,000 and 10,000.

Owning a satellite phone in India is tightly regulated. Buyers need explicit approval from the Department of Telecommunications before purchase or activation, and must complete BSNL's mandatory KYC verification along with details of the intended place, period and purpose of use. Interested buyers can approach their nearest BSNL office or call the dedicated satellite support number shared by the company. This is not BSNL's first satellite handset either, having previously sold the IsatPhone 2 for roughly Rs 90,000 since 2018.

The launch comes alongside BSNL's parallel push into Direct to Device , or D2D, satellite connectivity, developed with Viasat's geostationary L band satellites orbiting more than 36,000 kilometres above earth. The D2D service is aimed at extending basic SOS messaging capability to remote villages and disaster hit regions where telecom infrastructure has been knocked out, complementing the far pricier dedicated satellite handset now on offer.