Gautam Sharma, managing director, India at Inmarsat. Photo: Inmarsat

[Via Satellite 06-03-2016] Inmarsat has appointed Gautam Sharma as managing director to head its operations in India. Sharma joins Inmarsat having most recently held a series of senior international positions with telecommunications equipment and services company Huawei.

Inmarsat is the only government-authorized Mobile Satellite Services (MSS) provider in the Indian market. The operator has signed an agreement to partner with Indian state-owned telecommunications company Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) to distribute its fourth generation, L-band voice and data services within the Indian market. One of the first priorities for Sharma will be to work closely with BSNL to strengthen their partnership and open a new gateway that will support the anticipated increase in Indian-based end-users of Inmarsat’s services.

“We firmly believe that satellite communications can play a significant part in helping India’s connectivity. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has a strategic vision around Digital India and we believe there is a vital role for satellite communications to play within that project and beyond,” said Sharma.