Eutelsat, in partnership with Airtel, has deployed its OneWeb Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite services to strengthen the Indian Army’s humanitarian relief operations in flood-hit regions of Sri Lanka. The move aims to restore mission-critical communications and enable uninterrupted delivery of medical and emergency services in areas where terrestrial networks have been severely impacted.
Severe flooding across parts of Sri Lanka has disrupted conventional connectivity, hampering coordination efforts and emergency outreach. By activating high-speed, low-latency LEO satellite links, Eutelsat and Airtel have helped the Indian Army rapidly re-establish reliable communication channels essential for on-ground operations.
The restored connectivity is also enabling 24/7 telemedicine consultations between Army personnel in the affected areas and specialist medical teams elsewhere. This continuous remote support ensures timely diagnosis, triage, and treatment for impacted communities, significantly improving the speed and quality of the relief response.
The initiative underscores the critical role of resilient satellite infrastructure in disaster management, particularly when terrestrial systems fail. LEO networks, with their ability to deliver fibre-like performance in remote and disrupted environments, are increasingly becoming a cornerstone of emergency communications worldwide.
Neha Idnani, Regional Vice President for APAC at Eutelsat, said, “Eutelsat is deeply committed to supporting the Indian Army’s relief efforts with OneWeb LEO connectivity, delivered in partnership with Airtel. The ability to maintain high-quality communications in crisis situations is vital, and we remain committed to equipping organisations on the ground with secure, resilient connectivity required to safeguard lives and enable essential services.”
The deployment reinforces growing collaboration between satellite operators and Indian defence and humanitarian agencies, highlighting the strategic value of multi-layered, always-available communication networks in disaster-hit zones.
