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SATELLITE COMMUNICATION AUTHORISATION • CAPTIVE VSAT

Captive VSAT Authorisation

Consultant in India

Professional consultancy for Captive VSAT Service Authorisation under the current telecom regulatory framework. From eligibility assessment and documentation to application coordination and regulatory compliance, TeleTax Solutions supports businesses through the authorisation process.

SATELLITE NETWORK CORE NODEDoT VSAT Framework
Operational Tier:Captive Satellite
National Scope:All-India Space Segment
Terminal Scope:Fixed VSAT & ESIM

Comprehensive regulatory filing and satellite network infrastructure advisory.

FRAMEWORK FOUNDATION

What is Captive VSAT Service Authorisation?

Captive VSAT Service Authorisation is the official regulatory permission granted by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) that empowers an enterprise to establish, operate, and maintain satellite communication infrastructure for its internal, non-public closed user group (CUG) communications.

As a Captive Satellite Network Operator, an entity holding this authorisation is empowered to deploy ground satellite earth stations, configure remote VSAT dish terminals, mount Earth Stations in Motion (ESIM) on maritime or mobile platforms, and link geographically isolated offices and industrial facilities directly via satellite.

Under modern telecom legislation, this authorisation establishes complete legal authority for private data transmission, guarantees uninterrupted closed user group synchronization, and governs statutory security, gateway landing, and spectrum compliance.

CORE NETWORK RIGHTS & RESPONSIBILITIES

Establishment and ownership of private satellite earth stations and VSAT terminals
Procurement and lease of approved domestic & international space segment capacities
Direct inter-site data connectivity for remote plants, mines, offshore rigs & corporate hubs
Deployment of Earth Station in Motion (ESIM) for coastal and mobile transport assets
Strict adherence to domestic traffic routing inside India and Lawful Interception (LIM) norms
REGULATORY EVOLUTION

Captive VSAT License and Service Authorisation

"Captive VSAT License" remains a widely used business term, while the current statutory framework operates under Captive VSAT Service Authorisation under the Telecommunications Act.

LEGACY / EARLIER TERMINOLOGY

Captive VSAT License

Earlier multi-tier licensing under Indian Telegraph Act guidelines that governed private satellite ground stations and closed user group transponder leases.

CURRENT STATUTORY FRAMEWORK

Captive VSAT Service Authorisation

The applicable contemporary authorisation framework for captive satellite communications, enabling unified stationary VSAT and mobile ESIM operations under updated DoT digital rules.

Current 2026 Statutory Standard
OPERATIONAL DEMARCATION

Captive VSAT Deployment Categories

Authorisation scope covers both stationary and mobile enterprise satellite endpoints:

Fixed Terminal — Ground Station

Stationary VSAT Terminals

Authorizes the entity to establish fixed-aperture satellite dish terminals at permanent corporate sites, headquarters, remote manufacturing plants, solar installations, and mining blocks across India.

Mobile Terminal — Moving Platforms

Earth Station in Motion (ESIM)

Authorizes advanced satellite tracking terminals deployed on moving maritime vessels, coastal fleets, and mobile industrial transport units to maintain continuous satellite telemetry without signal loss.

Note: All ground terminals and mobile tracking units operate under the assigned space segment capacity and domestic gateway hub rules.

OFFICIAL DOT SCHEDULE REFERENCE

Current DoT Authorisation Fee Reference

Statutory charges payable directly to the Department of Telecommunications via Bharatkosh:

SERVICE AREA SCOPEPROCESSING FEEENTRY FEEFINANCIAL BANK GUARANTEE (FBG)TOTAL GOVT DUES
Captive VSAT Service AuthorisationPrivate Satellite Network (CUG Scope)₹10,000₹7,50,000₹3,00,000₹10,60,000
CMRTS AuthorisationPublic Mobile Radio Trunking₹10,000Nil₹20,000₹30,000
CNPN Service AuthorisationCaptive Non-Public Network₹10,000NilNil₹10,000
Captive General Service AuthorisationGeneral Captive ServicesNilNilNilNil
* Entry fees and bank guarantees are statutory government dues. Annual fee: ₹10,000 per VSAT terminal.Consult Our Regulatory Desk →
TARGET OPERATING ENTITIES

Who Needs Captive VSAT Authorisation?

Mining & Mineral Enterprises

Companies operating deep excavation sites, remote crushing units, and automated heavy haulage systems requiring continuous CUG telemetry.

Oil, Gas & Energy Corporations

Offshore exploration platforms, refinery pipeline pump stations, and isolated solar/wind parks requiring mission-critical SCADA data pipes.

Maritime & Shipping Fleets

Commercial shipping vessels, tugboat operators, and coastal logistics companies deploying Earth Station in Motion (ESIM) terminals.

Critical Infrastructure Developers

Hydropower dams, railway tunneling projects, highway construction camps, and national asset monitoring requiring independent links.

Existing Licensees Seeking Transition

Legacy Captive VSAT license holders migrating their regulatory permits to the modern Telecommunications Act authorization framework.

Geographically Distributed Enterprises

Large corporate conglomerates linking isolated branch units and regional warehouses directly to central corporate ERP systems.

MANDATORY PREREQUISITES

Eligibility Criteria for Captive VSAT Authorisation

CORPORATE STRUCTURE & SHAREHOLDING

Must be an Indian entity registered under the Companies Act (Private Limited or Public Limited).
The Memorandum of Association (MoA) must permit establishing internal telecommunication & satellite networks.
100% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) permitted under automatic route, subject to Press Note 3 compliance.

CAPTIVE & SECURITY DECLARATIONS

Clear declaration of captive, non-public closed user group (CUG) use with no commercial resale.
Settlement of all previous telecom license dues, entry fees, or interest with DoT.
Submission of mandatory security declarations, domestic gateway landing commitments, and LIM readiness.
DOCUMENTATION CHECKLIST

Documents Required for Captive VSAT Application

Document requirements may vary based on applicant structure and proposed satellite deployment scope:

CORPORATE DOCUMENTS

  • • Certificate of Incorporation (CIN)
  • • Memorandum & Articles of Association (MoA & AoA)
  • • Company PAN Card & Registered Office Proof
  • • Board Resolution authorizing the signatory

TECHNICAL & SATELLITE NETWORK

  • • CUG Network Topology Diagram & Site Coordinates
  • • Satellite Earth Station / Gateway Details (In India)
  • • Space Segment Allocation / Transponder Plan
  • • VSAT Dish & ESIM Terminal Specifications

REGULATORY DECLARATIONS

  • • Signatory KYC (Aadhaar, Passport & PAN)
  • • Captive Non-Public & Non-PSTN Bypass Undertaking
  • • Domestic Traffic Routing & LIM Compliance Proforma
  • • Saral Sanchar Digital Signature (DSC - Class 3)
PROCEDURAL SEQUENCE

End-to-End Captive VSAT Authorisation Process

Structured sequence guiding your private satellite operations from initial assessment to statutory authorisation grant:

01

Requirement Assessment

Evaluating site locations, stationary VSAT vs mobile ESIM requirements, and CUG traffic architecture.

02

Eligibility Review

Verifying corporate incorporation, FDI compliance, captive-use justification, and past telecom dues status.

03

Documentation Preparation

Assembling corporate resolutions, network diagrams, gateway coordinates, and space segment plans.

04

Application Submission

Compiling and digitally signing the dossier on the DoT Saral Sanchar portal with ₹10,000 processing fee.

05

DoT & WPC Scrutiny

Technical, legal, and security evaluation by DoT and coordination with Wireless Planning & Coordination (WPC).

06

Clarification / Query Handling

Drafting formal technical responses and revisions for departmental observations within deadlines.

07

Letter of Intent (LoI)

Issuance of formal Letter of Intent by DoT stating approval in principle and final compliance conditions.

08

Fee / Guarantee Compliance

Remittance of non-refundable entry fee of ₹7.5 Lakh and submission of ₹3 Lakh Initial Bank Guarantee.

09

Authorisation Grant

Formal signing and issuance of the statutory Captive VSAT Service Authorisation certificate.

* Processing timelines depend strictly on government portal evaluations and security agency clearances.

OPERATIONAL SCOPE

What Operations Can Be Covered?

Subject to the applicable authorisation scope, service area and conditions:

Inter-Site Enterprise Data

Dedicated, symmetrical point-to-point and point-to-multipoint data transmission links among internal corporate sites.

Telemetry & SCADA Monitoring

Automated remote telemetry, pipeline sensor polling, and SCADA industrial control links for isolated infrastructure.

Closed User Group Voice

Private VoIP and voice intercom channels between enterprise facilities within closed user group network boundaries.

Maritime Fleet Connectivity

Ship-to-shore private data pipelines for coastal vessels, offshore barges, and commercial fleets via ESIM terminals.

Disaster Recovery Backbone

Autonomous backup satellite communication links ensuring business continuity during regional terrestrial network blackouts.

Cloud & ERP Synchronization

Synchronizing central cloud servers, warehouse inventory databases, and real-time enterprise management software.

Remote Asset Surveillance

Private CCTV feed backhaul and perimeter security surveillance for unmanned electrical substations and mineral stockpiles.

Mobile Earth Station (ESIM)

Specialized mobile satellite tracking antennas maintaining continuous satellite lock across moving transport assets.

Captive Earth Station Gateway

Establishment of proprietary ground hub gateways within India or leasing capacity from authorized hub providers.

NATIONAL NETWORK BACKBONE

Building Connectivity at Scale

Authorised captive satellite operations connect enterprises, remote industrial assets, and closed user group infrastructures across India. A Captive VSAT authorisation enables entities to establish nationwide satellite footprints, deploy high-frequency uplink terminals, and secure digital transformation.

Space Segment

Authorized orbital satellite capacity

Ground Access

VSAT dish & ESIM terminal connectivity

INFRASTRUCTURE TO SERVICE FLOW
1. Satellite Infrastructure:

Orbital Satellites & Space Segment Transponders

2. Gateway Layer:

Satellite Earth Station Gateway (Located in India)

3. Authorised Service:

Captive Data Transmission & SCADA CUG Links

4. Endpoints:

Remote Industrial Sites, Mines, Rigs & Head Office

POST-GRANT GOVERNANCE

Authorisation is Only the Beginning

Operating an authorised captive satellite network requires ongoing statutory reporting and security adherence:

01. Annual Terminal Fee

Annual Authorisation Fee

Annual fee equal to ₹10,000 per VSAT/ESIM terminal installed, payable annually from effective authorization date.

02. Transponder Renewals

Space Segment Coordination

Ongoing coordination with satellite capacity providers and WPC operating licenses for transponder frequency spectrum.

03. DoT Compliance Audits

Closed User Group Audits

Periodic verification that network usage remains strictly captive without unauthorized public internet PSTN bypass.

04. Lawful Interception

Network Security & LIM Logs

Maintenance of gateway routing logs, encryption compliance, and lawful interception readiness as directed by DoT.

STATUTORY TENURE

Authorisation Validity & Renewal Terms

Captive VSAT Service Authorisation is granted for a duration of up to 20 years under the applicable framework, subject to continuous compliance with license terms, timely guarantee renewals, annual terminal fee remittances, and regulatory good standing.

20

YEARS TENURE

TRANSITION SUPPORT

Already Operating Under a Captive VSAT License?

The telecom regulatory framework has evolved. Existing license holders should assess their applicable migration requirements and bank guarantee rationalization under the current authorisation framework.

EXPLORE LICENSE MIGRATION
WHY TELETAX SOLUTIONS

Specialized VSAT Telecom Regulatory Consultancy

Telecom-Focused Consultancy

Deep advisory on DoT Saral Sanchar portal, satellite network operations, and space segment regulatory compliance law.

Technical Documentation Accuracy

Precise drafting of CUG network topology diagrams, space segment commitments, and equity shareholding declarations.

Integrated CA & Financial Desk

In-house Chartered Accountants to certify net worth statements, paid-up capital certificates, and statutory audit filings.

Dedicated Client Coordinator

Every applicant is assigned a single dedicated coordinator for real-time requirement tracking and procedural follow-ups.

Migration & Transition Advisory

Seamless guidance for legacy Captive VSAT license operators looking to modernize their licensing under the current authorization framework.

End-to-End Post-Grant Support

Ongoing assistance covering annual terminal fee filings, WPC transponder liaison, and statutory compliance reporting.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Captive VSAT Authorisation FAQs

Click on any question below to expand the detailed regulatory answer:

Captive VSAT Service Authorisation is the statutory regulatory permission granted by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) that empowers an entity to establish, operate, and maintain a private satellite communication network exclusively for internal, non-public closed user group (CUG) communication.

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Get professional guidance for Captive VSAT Service Authorisation, network topology compliance, entry fee structuring, and DoT portal filings.

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