Every Goan has experienced it: the maddening moment when the internet stalls, video calls freeze, bank transactions fail and an ordinary workday collapses because yet another fibre-optic cable has been damaged. From highway expansion works to routine digging, Goa’s internet infrastructure has repeatedly fallen victim to the state’s own developmental activity. For a region aspiring to be a knowledge-driven, investor-friendly, digitally efficient state, such fragility is nothing short of embarrassing.
So here is a simple, almost obvious question: why can’t Goa explore satellite-based internet to safeguard itself from the limitations of ground infrastructure?
It isn’t as far-fetched as it sounds. Goa has always punched above its weight in governance innovation: quick adoption of digital services, efficient public outreach systems, reforms in health and education and a generally proactive administrative culture. If any state can experiment with next-generation connectivity, it is Goa.
In fact, as of mid-2025, Elon Musk’s Starlink has already obtained regulatory clearance to operate over India – meaning that Goa’s shift towards satellite-based internet is no longer just visionary, but practically viable. The company’s business operations lead even met the state’s Chief Minister on December 12 with a proposal to strengthen Goa’s digital infrastructure.
Globally too, countries from the United States to Brazil, the Philippines, and parts of Europe and Africa have already integrated such satellite-based internet into their connectivity ecosystems, proving its reliability across diverse terrains and governance contexts. Its importance is most visible in war-torn Ukraine, where such satellite-based internet connectivity has become a lifeline when terrestrial networks are repeatedly destroyed.
For Goa to explore satellite-based internet, it is important to understand how Low Earth Orbit (LEO) connectivity actually works. Unlike traditional geostationary satellites that sit 36,000 km above the Earth, LEO satellites orbit much closer; usually between 500 and 1,200 km. Because of this short distance, signals travel faster, reducing latency and improving reliability. For users, the experience feels almost exactly like existing fibre broadband connections.
Satellite internet – especially low-earth-orbit (LEO) systems – offers exactly what Goa’s current connectivity lacks: resilience. Unlike fibre cables that can be snapped by construction work or damaged by monsoon conditions, satellite networks remain untouched by terrestrial disruptions. For a state with hilly terrains, dense green cover and expanding infrastructure projects, this is more than convenience; it is a strategic necessity.
There is also the political advantage. Goa has witnessed public resistance over mobile towers many times in the last decade, with concerns ranging from radiation to aesthetic degradation to land use. Whether these fears are scientifically valid or not, they slow down essential infrastructure. Satellite internet bypasses this entirely. No towers, no radiation panics, no land disputes. Moreover, embracing satellite internet would place Goa firmly in the “best practices” category among Indian states. Imagine the messaging: a small state leading the entire country in adopting globally competitive technology for public welfare.
Schools in remote areas could maintain uninterrupted access to digital classrooms. Hospitals could rely on stable telemedicine systems. Fisherfolk, forest communities and disaster-prone areas could remain connected even when conventional networks fail. Of course, the real challenge is not the technology, it is the bureaucracy. Goa’s experiments often falter when caught in inter-departmental transfers, procurement delays or political turf wars. A move towards satellite-based internet will require clear policy vision, transparency in partnerships, and above all, the courage to resist corruption and inflated tenders. If the initiative becomes yet another playground for middlemen, the project will collapse before it begins. This is where Goa urgently needs to rethink its approach.
Our coastal belt enjoys relatively stable connections, but the hinterlands, forested villages and hilly interiors still struggle with poor or non-existent mobile tower coverage. We simply cannot afford such helplessness, especially since LEO satellite internet offers a chance to plug these gaps immediately. LEO systems are not a distant dream for India; they are already here. High-speed satellite internet is being deployed across several states, including remote parts of Ladakh, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Gujarat, where terrestrial networks simply do not reach. Start-ups, local governments and even schools in these regions have begun opting for LEO-based connectivity to ensure uninterrupted service.
The upfront cost of the installation equipment might initially seem higher than a traditional broadband signup, but the long-term savings such as no cable maintenance, no downtime and no replacement expenses make the system far more economical. LEO systems also differ in cost structure: conventional terrestrial networks require kilometres of fibre cables, connectors, trenches, labour charges and the recurring rentals paid to government bodies for using electricity poles and concrete pillars. LEO networks eliminate most of these overheads, as there are no cables to dig, no poles to rent and no repeated repair costs every time a line is cut during roadwork. What a household or business needs is simply the user terminal (dish), router and a subscription plan.
Hence, the truth is simple: whether one is a student, a professional, a business owner or a tourist, internet today is as essential as water and electricity. So, when wires keep failing us, isn’t it time we started looking up?
(Sainandan S Iyer is an Assistant Professor in Political Science at DCT’s Dhempe College of Arts & Science, Miramar and a part-time PhD Scholar in International Relations at BITS Pilani K K Birla-Goa Campus.)
