New Delhi/Hyderabad, 28th January 2026: Viasata, a global leader in satellite communications, is sharpening its focus on in-flight connectivity in India, building on global aviation experience and India-based engineering capabilities that support large-scale satellite connectivity operations worldwide. As India looks to scale its aviation ecosystem for the next phase of growth and passenger experience, Viasat is the corporate partner at WINGS INDIA 2026, Asia’s premier civil aviation event, scheduled from January 28 to 31, 2026 at Begumpet Airport in Hyderabad.
The company received authorisation for in-flight connectivity in India in 2020 and has since been providing connectivity to commercial airlines, business jets and strategic platforms of the Government of India. Viasat has also dedicated ground infrastructure in the country to support aviation connectivity.
“We have built four ground stations in India. One of them is for safety services and the second is for in-flight connectivity. On in-flight connectivity, we got authorizations in 2020 and since then, we are already giving connectivity to business jets and strategic platforms. Globally, Viasat is one of the leading providers of satellite connectivity for commercial aviation. We have been working in aviation for over a decade and today support more than 60 airlines worldwide,” said Gautam Sharma, Managing Director, Viasat India.
Viasat’s aviation connectivity enables internet and telephony access onboard aircraft, along with live TV, wireless in-flight entertainment and streaming services.
Sanjay Lala, Vice President – Business Development, Viasat said, “We today support more than 60 airlines globally. We connect around 14,000 flights every day and support over 3 million flight hours each month. This is a large-scale global operation. Viasat offers flexible business models that allow the airline to choose how these services are offered to passengers. We provide the services and customise them based on what the airline wants to deliver. Viasat connects the complex dots and makes connectivity work with high reliability and a superior passenger experience, even with more devices connected than passengers on the flight. While Viasat already provides connectivity on flights operating globally, discussions with Indian airlines are ongoing.”
Chennai and Hyderabad engineering centres drive global operations
Alongside its aviation focus, Viasat’s India operations play a critical role in supporting global satellite networks.
Gautam Sharma, Managing Director, Viasat India said, “We have already invested significantly in India. We have around 300 engineers in our Chennai engineering centre and have expanded our presence in Hyderabad where the team currently comprises around 50 professionals. India plays a significant role in managing our ground networks worldwide. The gateways and ground systems are the heart of our connectivity and operate 24×7 with high availability. This is mission-critical and high-value engineering work.”
The teams in Chennai and Hyderabad work on global software solutions and systems that directly support in-flight connectivity and other services. Their responsibilities include software development, configuration, troubleshooting, system upgrades, and remote management of complex ground infrastructure.
Broader connectivity footprint
Beyond in-flight connectivity and engineering operations, Viasat has been present in India for nearly three decades and provides mission-critical strategic services to the Government of India and defence forces.
Gautam Sharma, Managing Director, Viasat India said, “The company also supports maritime connectivity, safety services, enterprise solutions, and is working on services such as direct-to-device, advanced air mobility, and UAV connectivity. We have approvals for both the ground segment and the space segment. We are focused on providing as much connectivity as possible across all these verticals.”
