Tata Group company Nelco has announced a strategic partnership and investment in Lunar Holdco, which does business as Elveo Mobile. The aim is to bring satellite-based direct-to-device and IoT connectivity to India and South Asian markets.

This may sound technical at first, but the idea is quite simple. Nelco and Elveo want to help phones, sensors, vehicles, machines and field assets stay connected even in places where normal mobile networks are weak or missing.

The partnership is expected to serve sectors such as automotive, maritime, energy, government, telecom, infrastructure and other mission-critical businesses. For India and South Asia, where remote areas, highways, seas, farms and industrial sites often face network gaps, this can become an important connectivity layer.

What Nelco and Elveo plan to do

Nelco is one of India’s leading satellite communication service providers and is part of the Tata Group. The company already works in areas such as enterprise connectivity, maritime communication, aviation connectivity, government networks and remote-site communication.

Elveo Mobile is a US-based company working on global direct-to-device satellite mobile connectivity. According to the report, Nelco will bring Elveo’s satellite connectivity and compute solutions to enterprises across India and South Asia.

The word “compute” here means that satellites will not only pass signals. They may also process some data in space, helping services become more responsive and flexible. Elveo’s satellite technology includes advanced on-board processing, which Nelco sees as useful for changing customer needs.

What is D2D connectivity

D2D means direct-to-device connectivity.

In normal mobile connectivity, your phone connects to a nearby mobile tower. That tower then connects your call, message or internet data to the larger network.

In D2D satellite connectivity, the device can connect directly to a satellite, depending on the device, service design, spectrum rules and network support. This can help users or machines stay connected in places where mobile towers are not available.

For example, a truck moving through a remote highway may lose mobile coverage. With satellite D2D support, its location update or emergency message can still be sent. A fishing vessel far from shore can remain reachable. A field worker in a disaster-hit area may be able to send an alert even if towers are down.

D2D is not meant to replace regular 4G or 5G in cities. It is more useful as a coverage extension and backup layer.

What is IoT connectivity

IoT means Internet of Things. It refers to connected devices that collect and send data without constant human action.

A vehicle tracker, smart meter, water-level sensor, farm soil sensor, pipeline monitor, weather station or machine health sensor can all be IoT devices.

IoT connectivity gives these devices a way to send data. In cities, this can happen through mobile networks, Wi-Fi or fibre-linked systems. But in remote locations, those options may not be reliable. Satellite IoT can help fill that gap.

For example, an energy company can monitor equipment in a remote solar park. A logistics firm can track expensive cargo. A government agency can monitor flood-prone areas. A maritime company can track vessels and safety signals.

Why this partnership matters

The biggest benefit is coverage.

1. India has strong telecom networks in many regions, but there are still gaps in remote villages, forests, highways, mountain areas, deserts, border regions and coastal waters. South Asia has similar challenges. Satellite connectivity can reach places where ground networks are costly or hard to build.
2. The second benefit is resilience. During floods, cyclones, earthquakes or major power failures, normal communication networks can be disrupted. Satellite connectivity can support emergency response and business continuity.
3. The third benefit is real-time visibility. Companies do not only want internet access. They want to know where their assets are, whether machines are working, whether a shipment is safe, and whether a field operation needs attention.

This is why the Nelco-Elveo partnership is not only a telecom story. It is also relevant for automotive, logistics, energy, infrastructure and public services.

Use cases for different sectors

In automotive, satellite D2D and IoT can support connected vehicles, fleet tracking, roadside alerts and telematics. Telematics simply means collecting useful vehicle data such as location, speed, route, fuel use or battery status.

In maritime, it can help ships and fishing boats stay connected beyond coastal mobile coverage.

In energy, it can help monitor remote oil, gas, solar, wind and transmission assets.

In infrastructure, sensors can help track bridges, rail networks, roads, remote construction sites and critical equipment.

In government work, the same technology can support disaster response, border communication, emergency alerts and remote public services.

Competitors and market overview

The satellite connectivity market is becoming active in India and globally. Nelco already works in a space where companies such as Starlink, Eutelsat OneWeb, Jio-SES, Amazon Kuiper, Hughes, Viasat and Intelsat are closely watched.

For direct-to-device services globally, companies such as AST SpaceMobile, Lynk Global and Starlink’s direct-to-cell effort are also important names.

However, the market is still developing. D2D services need regulatory clarity, spectrum coordination, compatible devices and strong partnerships between satellite companies, telecom operators and local service providers.

Challenges ahead

The promise is strong, but rollout will take time.

Satellite D2D services must avoid interference with mobile networks. Regulators need to set clear rules. Devices must support the technology. Pricing must also be practical, especially if services are meant for large-scale enterprise use.

Users should also have realistic expectations. Early D2D services may focus on messaging, alerts, tracking and small data packets before moving to richer voice or broadband-style services.

Conclusion with key takeaways

Nelco’s partnership and investment in Elveo Mobile shows where satellite communication is heading. It is moving beyond large terminals and enterprise links into a world where phones, vehicles, sensors and machines can stay connected across difficult locations.

For India and South Asia, this can help close coverage gaps in transport, maritime, energy, government, infrastructure and emergency services. The real value will come when the technology becomes affordable, reliable and easy for enterprises to use.

Key takeaways –

• Nelco has partnered with and invested in Lunar Holdco, doing business as Elveo Mobile.
• The partnership will focus on satellite-based D2D and IoT connectivity for India and South Asia.
• D2D means a device can connect directly to a satellite where normal mobile coverage is missing.
• IoT connectivity helps sensors, machines, vehicles and assets send useful data.
• Important use cases include automotive telematics, fleet tracking, infrastructure monitoring, remote operations, disaster response and business continuity.

Facts Input- TimesTech, GSMA, 3GPP