As a result, the GMPCS service will be launched in the country simultaneously with the global launch on November 1, an official release said. The licence agreement follows the government's policy decision on August 26 to allow introduction of global satellite services in the country.

All inter-connection issues on GMPCS services will be governed by the regulations framed by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). TRAI will also work out a tariff policy for the service.

India is the first country in the south Asian region to permit commercial launch of the service.

With the service, people will be able to communicate from any part of the world through hand-held phones using a single telephone number.

Iridium operates in India as a jointventure between a consortium of Indian financial institutions and the network management group of Motorola Inc of US.