13 companies given In Flight and Maritime Connectivity (IFMC) authorization to date: Dhotre

The Minister of State for Communications Sanjay Dhotre today apprised the Rajya Sabha that the Government of India to date had authorized 13 companies for providing In Flight and Maritime Connectivity (IFMC). The response came in reply to a question on the current status of in-flight connectivity in flights of airlines operating from India.

Dhotre told the Rajya Sabha that till date in-flight connectivity was not provided in domestic flights by the airlines however in-flight connectivity is being provided in international flights in Indian Airspace. Dhotre further said that the Government had no timeline for providing in-flight connectivity in all flights of airlines operating from India. The Government also has no plans to invite tenders for providing in-flight connectivity service.

As of date, IFMC authorization has been granted to 13 companies including Bharti Airtel Ltd, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL), Cloudcast Digital Ltd, Elektronik Lab Ltd, Elektronik Lab India Pvt Ltd, Hughes Communications India Ltd, Indo Teleports Ltd, Nelco Network Products Ltd, PHDCOMM Pvt Ltd, Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd, Station Satcom Private Ltd, Tatanet Services Ltd, and Vodafone Idea Ltd.

Multiple international airlines operating from India are providing in-flight connectivity in Indian airspace including Alitalia, Aer Lingus, Air Serbia, Asiana Airlines, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, Cathay Pacific, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Egyptair, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Eurowings, EVA Air, Finnair, Garuda Indonesia, Kuwait Airways, Lufthansa, Malaysia Airlines, Malindo Air, Scoot Airlines, Scandinavian Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Swiss International Air Lines, TAP Air Portugal, Thai Airways, Turkish Airlines, United Airlines, Uzbekistan Airways, Virgin Atlantic, and Vistara Airlines.