NXTDigital Limited (NDL) and Thaicom Public Company Limited, Thailand (Thaicom) Monday, made a joint announcement of having signed a binding Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to form a strategic partnership to enter the Broadband-over-satellite (BoS) market and related services in India.

 

The MOU envisages the partnership which includes deployment of BoS systems on India-focused capacity, which could be enhanced to provide future additional capacity on a state-of-art software-defined high throughput satellite; augmenting the existing IPSTAR-1 which is the first broadband satellite in the world and operational over India since several years.

 

The partnership could also be in OneOTT Intertainment Limited (OIL), the broadband subsidiary of NDL and India’s fourth-largest private ISP with over 1 million customers and a presence in 150+ cities and towns.

 

Thaicom and NDL will provide BoS services immediately on IPSTAR-1 – focusing mainly on the rural footprint of India, comprising 60 percent of NDL’s customers, through the only HITS (Headend-In-The-Sky) platform in India.

 

As per the company’s press release, the BoS service will focus on providing cost-effective and quality broadband and will give a tremendous boost to delivering education, information, entertainment, health, and other services to these markets. It will also look to complement the existing broadband delivery technologies and broadband penetration of NDL’s broadband subsidiary, OIL.

 

Thaicom and NDL will also develop and offer a myriad of global emerging digital solutions which is critical to the government’s vision and mission of a resilient digital India. 

 

Both companies have also agreed to set up a Centre for Excellence to develop new satellites and related digital-based technologies through artificial intelligence and analytics – leveraging deep-tech research and development.

 

In this joint announcement, NXTDigital also announced that Yugal Sharma, Chief Executive Officer of the broadband subsidiary OneOTT Intertainment Limited has chosen to move on after a successful six-year stint; to pursue new ventures in the field of sports and sports management. 

 

Yugal is credited with having built up the broadband business into India’s fourth-largest private ISP, with over 1 million subscribers. A veteran of the broadband industry, Yugal, who is also a passionate sportsperson, has been instrumental in building up the various verticals, especially the innovative and highly successful Strategic Partnership Model, the company said.

 

Talking about the announcement, Patompob (Nile) Suwansiri, Director and Chief Executive Officer, Thaicom Public Company Limited, said, “We are delighted to ink this MOU with NXTDigital, which is easily one of the best digital platforms groups in India. With our global satellite experience spanning nearly three decades and NXTDigital’s distribution expertise, vast footprint, and broadband penetration – we believe that together, we are best suited to delivering broadband over satellite and related services to India, not just at a high level of quality of service, but also cost-effectively. Our engagement and investments reflect our commitment to India, where we have had a presence since 2002, offering broadband over satellite since then.”

Vynsley Fernandes, Managing Director, and CEO at NXTDigital Limited said, “We have always taken our commitment to the digital India mission very seriously. With HITS, we now cover over 4,500 pin codes across India with a significant presence in not just rural India but also areas where terrain poses challenges to connectivity. Through this engagement with Thaicom, a global leader in satellite technology, we will look to facilitate digital inclusion by extending satellite-based broadband connectivity and services not only to our customers there but also to underserved and other poorly connected markets.”

 

Commenting on the Yugal’s successful years, AK Das, Chairman of OneOTT Intertainment Ltd. said, “Yugal has played a pivotal role in the significant growth of OIL through developing innovative strategies and business models over the years. Today, OIL is a highly respected brand across 150 cities and towns and is associated with a very high quality of service. Much of that credit is attributed to Yugal’s leadership from the front, propelling the brand into India’s top 4 private ISPs. We take this opportunity to thank him and wish him all the very best as he explores new ventures.”