Amazon Leo wants to use its satellite network to power public Wi-Fi hotspots across India
Follow UsAmazon Leo has asked TRAI to recognise satellite broadband as eligible backhaul for PM-WANI public Wi-Fi deployments
Amazon says LEO satellite internet can match fibre performance and reach areas where cable infrastructure is not viable
Amazon Leo also wants access to Digital Bharat Nidhi funds and a deeper integration into the BharatNet programme
Amazon’s satellite internet service, Amazon Leo, has formally asked India’s Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to allow satellite broadband as a qualifying backhaul technology for public Wi-Fi deployments, including under the PM-WANI framework. In its response to TRAI’s consultation paper on expanding public Wi-Fi, Amazon Leo argued that its low-Earth orbit (LEO) network can deliver fibre-equivalent performance without the civil works and time required to lay optical cable, according to a Moneycontrol report.
SurveyAmazon’s submission positions satellite internet as a practical solution for last-mile connectivity in areas where fibre rollout faces geographical, logistical or commercial barriers. Amazon Leo cited studies suggesting LEO satellite broadband can be more cost-effective than fibre in thinly populated rural regions and called for satellite backhaul to be more deeply integrated into BharatNet which is India’s rural broadband programme. While BharatNet fibre reaches Gram Panchayats, Amazon Leo pointed out that extending connectivity from there to individual villages and community centres remains slow and expensive.
The company also asked for access to Digital Bharat Nidhi funds for satellite backhaul in areas without fibre, simplified authentication for satellite-enabled PM-WANI hotspots to help first-time internet users in rural areas and regulatory access to key spectrum bands including Ka-band, Q/V-band and E-band. It backed a market-driven approach in which the government ensures robust backhaul infrastructure while multiple technologies, including satellite, fibre and wireless, compete to serve it.
What is Amazon Leo
Amazon Leo, formerly known as Project Kuiper, is Amazon’s LEO satellite internet service, officially launched in November 2025. The network is designed to deliver high-speed internet to locations beyond the reach of conventional infrastructure, using satellites orbiting between 590 and 630 km above Earth. Amazon has deployed 333 satellites to date and is targeting a constellation of over 3,000. The service offers three tiers: Leo Nano (up to 100 Mbps), Leo Pro (up to 400 Mbps) and Leo Ultra (up to 1 Gbps).
In India, Amazon Leo has applied for a Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite (GMPCS) authorisation from the Department of Telecommunications, which is required to offer satellite-based broadband commercially in the country. The company has said it has invested over $10 billion in building the network globally.
Amazon Leo’s India push comes as the company faces launch delays elsewhere. Its primary heavy-lift rocket partners, Blue Origin’s New Glenn and ULA’s Vulcan, have both been grounded following technical issues, slowing the pace of satellite deployment. The US Federal Communications Commission recently waived a requirement for Amazon to have half its constellation in orbit by July 2026, reflecting the scale of those delays.
Starlink’s India troubles create an opening
The timing of Amazon Leo’s India push is notable given the difficulties its main rival is facing. Starlink, Elon Musk’s satellite internet service, has been waiting on final security clearances before it can begin commercial operations in India. According to a report, security agencies under the Ministry of Home Affairs have withheld those approvals amid concerns about how much oversight Indian authorities would have over a US-based provider during periods of geopolitical tension. The concerns are partly linked to reports that Starlink terminals were used during the Iran conflict despite the service not being officially licensed there.
Starlink received its GMPCS licence in India nearly a year ago and has already established around ten gateways and a hub in Mumbai, but several regulatory approvals remain outstanding. The security standoff has also reportedly stalled progress on satellite spectrum pricing which is a prerequisite for any commercial satellite internet launch in the country.
For Amazon Leo has also applied for a GMPCS authorisation but if Starlink’s clearances continue to be delayed, it could find itself better positioned to be the first major LEO satellite internet service to launch commercially in India, provided its own regulatory process moves forward and its satellite deployment catches up.
Also Read: Starlink India launch reportedly on hold over security concerns: Here is what happened
