Viasat and WiSig Networks say they have launched global testing of a newly developed Made in India 5G satellite Internet of Things (IoT) chipset.
The partners say the development was announced at Bharat Innovates 2026 in Nice, France, on 14-16 June 2026, and the validation is geared toward direct-to-device connectivity over Viasat’s L-band geostationary fleet.
Testing targets direct links to Viasat’s L-band geostationary fleet
The testing is intended to validate the chipset’s ability to communicate directly with Viasat’s globally positioned L-band geostationary satellite fleet.
Satnews says the hardware module has entered advanced evaluation at Viasat’s specialised laboratories in the UK, placing the project through an early stage of lab-based qualification.
Built for NB-IoT NTN using 3GPP Release 17 device class
The collaboration aims to introduce a device class built around 3GPP Release 17 standards for narrowband-IoT non-terrestrial networks (NB-IoT NTN).
The effort also frames satellite IoT as a category that historically relied on proprietary, closed hardware architectures, with this chipset positioned as a move toward a standards-based approach.
WiSig developed the stack and targets both L-band and S-band
WiSig says it developed the entire technology stack from the ground up, including a baseband processor, a radio-frequency system-on-chip (RF SoC), and a compact communication module.
WiSig claims the chip supports both L-band and S-band satellite frequencies, with the component designed to deliver secure two-way messaging, real-time location streaming, and low-rate telemetry.
Designed for narrowband operation and ultra-low power field use
The chipset relies on narrowband protocols and is engineered for ultra-low power consumption for the life of connected field devices using the module.
WiSig’s approach is aligned to testing outcomes that, if laboratory validation proves successful, would lead Viasat to integrate the module as a low-cost, mass-producible entry point into its expanding global connectivity portfolio.
Government-backed “Made in India” development and target use cases
The development of the WiSig chipset is described as heavily backed by Indian government-led initiatives under the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
Viasat says it will target maritime operations, industrial telemetry, and disaster response. The article also suggests that validating an indigenous chip on a premier global satellite platform could allow India to position itself as an architecture contributor to future 5G-Advanced and upcoming 6G NTN frameworks.