MUMBAI: WorldSpace, a US-based satellite radio company, plans to launch satellite car radio service in India by mid-2010.

WorldSpace is ready to roll out this initiative within 10 months of the government's fixation of a satellite radio policy.

"Non-availability of terrestrially augmented satellite radio services in India that enable satellite radio service in automobiles is purely due to regulatory hurdles. If that is cleared, by the finalisation of the new Satellite Radio Policy by the Government, we can roll-out the same for the Indian consumers in the next eight to ten months," says WorldSpace MD (India and Middle East) Mathewkutty Sebastian

The radio to be offered is an independent device and not in-built. "Initially it won't be an in-built car radio and in the Indian context, it may be advisable to have a plug-play receiver rather than an in-built radio. We are yet to finalise on the pricing," adds Sebastian.

Phase two of the radio service will be rolled out in association with appropriate Indian partners. Besides India, WorldSpace has licenses to roll out terrestrially augmented satellite radio services in several markets in Europe and Middle East such as Italy, Germany, Switzerland, UAE and Bahrain.

Additionally, it's also venturing into the online radio space by offering subscription-based online radio stations. "The online service is aimed at the Indian diaspora. Here again, it is the regulatory hurdles that have delayed our efforts so far. We hope that it will be cleared soon," says Sebastian.