The Government of India will allow the use of data and voice services on flights over the country’s airspace. This is one of several recommendations from India’s Telecom Commission, a part of the federal Department of Telecommunications.
The administration will develop a licensing framework for “in-flight connectivity providers” in three months. In-flight connectivity providers will pay an annual license fee of just 1 Indian rupee or $0.015, initially. Internet connectivity will be available only when a flight is at an altitude of over 9,000 feet.
The Telecom Commission will also work toward increasing the network of public WiFi hotspots. Currently, India has about 38,000 WiFi hotspots, but the Department of Telecommunications hopes to boost this number to 500,000 by the end of the year.
