Butchers of Sopore and Birmingham

Nine years of calm before icy storm

Kashmir turns crimson with blood of Pandits

AN UN-ISLAMIC KIDNAPPING AND CHAOS IN THE VALLEY

The illusion of azaadi and Kashmir’s historic deception

How Pak's terror policy evolved in Kashmir

Birth of social media jihadists, death of Article-370

Operation Sindoor: When Indian missiles rained on Pak terror parade

<div class='ite_mg_banner ads__container'><div class='it_mg_bnrBox'><div class='ite_bnr_cont'><div class='ite_cont_dtl'> <h4>Subscribe to India Today Print + Digital. Your First Month Is On Us. <span class='bold_text'> ₹299/month</span> thereafter. Cancel anytime.</h4><a href='https://ancillary-proxy.atarimworker.dev?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsubscriptions.intoday.in%2Findiatoday%3Futm_source%3Dtop-web-banner ' class='ite_subscribe_btn origin_conscent_url' target='_blank'>SUBSCRIBE</a></div></div></div></div>

US Election coverage

India

World

NewsMo

Fact Check

Programmes

Match Schedule

Teams

Player Stats

Match Report

LIVE SCORES

<div class="itg-mosimage"><amp-img src="https://ancillary-proxy.atarimworker.dev?url=https%3A%2F%2Fakm-img-a-in.tosshub.com%2Fsites%2Fmedia2%2Findiatoday%2Fimages%2Fstories%2F1997July%2Fsciencescope-1_091712104320.jpg" alt="" height="425" width="650" class="" layout="responsive"></amp-img><p>You thought the cellular phone was the ultimate status symbol? You're already out of date. This is the age of the satellite phone: a super-sophisticated cell phone that lets you call anywhere in the world - from anywhere in the world.</p><p>Forget roaming facilities that allow you to use a cell phone in various cities; this phone has seamless worldwide roaming. An Indian company is all set to launch Planet 1, the first commercial-satellite phone service in this country through Comsat, an American satellite company. </p><p>You can't exactly slip the sat phone into your pocket though. Satellite phones are still too cumbersome: this one is as large as a laptop computer, with a battery pack that keeps it going for one and a half hours. Flip open the lid, and it becomes an antenna. Swivel the unit around until a light blinks on - you are lined up with an Inmarsat communications satellite thousands of kilometres above you. </p><p>Make the call, and a digital signal shoots up to the satellite, which beams it to a receiving station. This in turn redirects the call to a phone exchange in the country you're calling. </p><p>The cost? Calls, at normal ISD rates, will be charged through VSNL, India's long-distance phone carrier, which will provide the satellite phone company a gateway to the Indian telephone network. The phone itself costs roughly Rs 2.5 lakh. As a status symbol, the cell phone wouldn't stand a chance.</p><div class="itemcenter"><amp-iframe height="62" title="" width="320" sandbox="allow-forms allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-top-navigation allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation" allowfullscreen src="https://ancillary-proxy.atarimworker.dev?url=https%3A%2F%2Fakm-img-a-in.tosshub.com%2Fsites%2Findiatoday%2Fbanner%2Fpreferred-source-new.html%3Fv%3D1.014%5Cu0026native%3D1" class="mrBt15 preferred-source-banner"> </amp-iframe></div><div id="tab-link-wrapper-plugin"><div class="authors__container"><div class="authors__by"><div class="authlable">Published By: </div><div class="authdetaisl">AtMigration </div></div><div class="published__on"><div class="authlable">Published On: </div><div class="authdetaisl">Jul 21, 1997</div></div></div><div class="sendros">--- ENDS ---</div></div></div>

science-and-technology

Science and Technology

<div class="itg-mosimage"><div class="itgimage"><img  title=""  class="" alt="" src="https://ancillary-proxy.atarimworker.dev?url=https%3A%2F%2Fakm-img-a-in.tosshub.com%2Fsites%2Fmedia2%2Findiatoday%2Fimages%2Fstories%2F1997July%2Fsciencescope-1_091712104320.jpg" loading="lazy" /></div><p>You thought the cellular phone was the ultimate status symbol? You're already out of date. This is the age of the satellite phone: a super-sophisticated cell phone that lets you call anywhere in the world - from anywhere in the world.</p><p>Forget roaming facilities that allow you to use a cell phone in various cities; this phone has seamless worldwide roaming. An Indian company is all set to launch Planet 1, the first commercial-satellite phone service in this country through Comsat, an American satellite company. </p><p>You can't exactly slip the sat phone into your pocket though. Satellite phones are still too cumbersome: this one is as large as a laptop computer, with a battery pack that keeps it going for one and a half hours. Flip open the lid, and it becomes an antenna. Swivel the unit around until a light blinks on - you are lined up with an Inmarsat communications satellite thousands of kilometres above you. </p><p>Make the call, and a digital signal shoots up to the satellite, which beams it to a receiving station. This in turn redirects the call to a phone exchange in the country you're calling. </p><p>The cost? Calls, at normal ISD rates, will be charged through VSNL, India's long-distance phone carrier, which will provide the satellite phone company a gateway to the Indian telephone network. The phone itself costs roughly Rs 2.5 lakh. As a status symbol, the cell phone wouldn't stand a chance.</p><div class="itemcenter"><iframe scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" width="100%" height="62" awidth="320" aheight="62" amplayout="fixed" src="https://ancillary-proxy.atarimworker.dev?url=https%3A%2F%2Fakm-img-a-in.tosshub.com%2Fsites%2Findiatoday%2Fbanner%2Fpreferred-source-new.html%3Fv%3D1.014" class="preferred-source-banner" loading="lazy"></iframe></div><style>.preferred-source-banner{  margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom:10px;}</style><div id="tab-link-wrapper-plugin"><div class="authors__container"><div class="authors__by"><div class="authlable">Published By: </div><div class="authdetaisl">AtMigration </div></div><div class="published__on"><div class="authlable">Published On: </div><div class="authdetaisl">Jul 21, 1997</div></div></div><div class="sendros">--- ENDS ---</div></div></div>

You thought the cellular phone was the ultimate status symbol? You're already out of date. This is the age of the satellite phone: a super-sophisticated cell phone that lets you call anywhere in the world - from anywhere in the world.

India Today

Indian company set to launch Planet 1, commercial-satellite phone service through Comsat

See the sky, pick up the phone - India Today

Indian company set to launch Planet 1, first commercial-satellite phone service

See the sky, pick up the phone

Director Lokesh Kanagaraj has responded to allegations that his films encourage drug culture. He talked about his off-screen efforts against drug abuse and clarified his stance on social responsibility.

Lokesh Kanagaraj criticism on drug culture

Director Lokesh Kanagaraj hits back at drug glorification claims in his films

UIDAI will introduce a new feature allowing Aadhaar holders to update mobile numbers anytime. This aims to improve digital service access and support inclusive identity management.

Users can change the mobile number linked to their Aadhar card without any paperwork or queues.

Aadhaar to allow mobile number updates anytime, anywhere from January 28

Influencer Amulya Rattan addressed the uproar over her viral 'no civic sense' video remark, which led to divided opinions on accountability and online behaviour.

Influencer reacts to ‘no civic sense’ video backlash, Internet calls it a sympathy bid

Influencer reacts to ‘no civic sense’ video backlash, Internet calls it a sympathy bid (Photos: @amulyarattan_/Instagram)

For years imported cars from Europe have attracted some of the highest duties in the world. A fully built model faces taxes of about 70% to 110%. That is the single biggest reason a BMW, Audi or Mercedes costs so much more in India than it does in Europe.

Cheaper European cars under India-EU FTA

India-EU trade deal: Will European cars really get cheaper?

The Karnataka Wine Merchants' Association said it plans to write to senior Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi to highlight the alleged excise scam.

Karnataka excise scam

Karnataka wine merchants accuse Congress govt of Rs 6,000-crore excise scam

Play Time!

PM Modi

India-EU Summit

UGC Row

Jana Nayagan

Tariffs

Iran

Donald Trump

Border 2

Delhi Weather

Rahul Gandhi

WPL 2026

T20 World Cup

Budget 2026

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s election rally in poll-bound Kerala on Thursday saw a warm and light-hearted moment when he paused his speech to acknowledge a young child in the crowd holding up his picture, drawing loud applause. Modi asked the boy to hand over the photograph, write his home address on the back, and promised to write to him personally, directing SPG personnel to handle the picture carefully as a token of the child’s affection. 

PM Modi's Kerala  rally.

You’ll get tired beta: PM’s warm moment with child holding his pic at Kerala rally

 Amidst inclement weather and heavy snowfall, a team of Udhampur police rescued 12 individuals, including women and children, who were stranded at Chochru Galla in the upper ridges of the Basantgarh area.

Udhampur Police Rescue 12 People Stranded In Heavy Snow

Udhampur police rescue 12 people stranded in heavy snowfall in J&K's Basantgarh

Ajith Kumar's fans took the celebrations too seriously as they burst crackers inside a theatre hall during Mankatha screening. The film re-released in South India on January 23.

Ajith Mankatha celebrations

Watch: Ajith's fans burst crackers for Mankantha intro scene inside auditorium

In an exclusive interview with India Today TV Consulting Editor Rajdeep Sardesai at Davos, Somalia's Deputy Prime Minister Salah Ahmed Jama spoke in fluent Hindi and slammed Donald Trump for his remarks and recalled his student days in India. 

Download App

Subscribe to India Today Print + Digital. Your First Month Is On Us. ₹299/month thereafter. Cancel anytime.

Indian company set to launch Planet 1, first commercial-satellite phone service

You thought the cellular phone was the ultimate status symbol? You're already out of date. This is the age of the satellite phone: a super-sophisticated cell phone that lets you call anywhere in the world - from anywhere in the world.

PUBLICATIONS

TELEVISION

EVENTS

RADIO

GAMING

USEFUL LINKS

PRINTING

WELFARE

DISTRIBUTION

SYNDICATIONS

WEBSITES

EDUCATION