Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and Viasat India said on Friday they are expanding their collaboration on skills training to include satellite-based IoT solutions, with a particular focus on commercial uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs), in a bid to boost India’s low-altitude economy, as well as Viasat’s Velaris UAV service.

Under a new collaboration agreement, Viasat and Bharat Ratna Bhim Rao Ambedkar Institute of Telecom Training (BRBRAITT, a specialized training institute under BSNL in Jabalpur) will establish a centre of excellence for UAVs, IoT and other related technologies.

BRBRRAITT will provide infrastructure, classrooms, and logistical support for the training programs, in which engineering students from IT, Electronics & Communication, and Computer Science streams will have the opportunity to participate in sessions and demonstrations of Viasat terminals.

Viasat and BSNL will also collaborate on commercializing Viasat’s Velaris UAV solutions for the Indian market. Velaris is a satellite communications service that provides L-band connectivity for uncrewed aircraft to operate beyond visual line of sight – which Viasat said is crucial for enabling UAVs to fly in commercial airspace.

Viasat said the two companies aim to create the necessary ecosystem to support India’s emerging low-altitude economy for aerial operations below 3,000 meters, including drones and advanced air mobility. Viasat India MD Gautam Sharma said India's drone market is on a rapid growth trajectory, with projections indicating substantial expansion by 2030, and that Viasat’s tie-up with BSNL “will help unlock the immense potential of the country's low-altitude economy.”

“The Centre of Excellence at BRBRAITT will equip a new generation of professionals with critical skills, while our work to commercialize Viasat's Velaris will enable new and innovative services for our customers, driving economic growth and development across the country,” added BSNL chairman and MD Robert J Ravi in a statement.