Satellite communication services likely to begin next year; industry awaits draft space law: IsPA chief AK Bhatt

Indian Space Association director general Lt Gen retd AK Bhatt

India could see the launch of satellite communication (SATCOM) services as early as next year, according to Lt. Gen. A.K. Bhatt (Retd), Director General of the Indian Space Association (ISpA).

Speaking to Moneycontrol on the sidelines of the India Mobile Congress, Bhatt said operators such as OneWeb, Starlink and Amazon’s Kuiper are preparing to roll out services in India once spectrum allocation is completed.

“If we talk of one year, I see OneWeb, Starlink and maybe Kuiper providing services in India. That will definitely happen,” he said.

Satellite communication (SATCOM) is being positioned as a much-needed alternative for internet connectivity in remote regions where terrestrial infrastructure is economically unviable.

Despite approvals granted to players such as Bharti-backed OneWeb and Eutelsat, commercial services are yet to take off due to pending spectrum allocation and regulatory clearances.

The IsPA has also pushed for faster spectrum allocation for satellite players, which has been pending since the first Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite (GMPCS) licence was issued in 2022.

Bhatt called it a “huge opportunity cost” for the industry, stressing that spectrum assignment must be expedited to “get the ball rolling”.

Bhatt added that the ISpA expects the government to share the draft Space Activities Bill with industry stakeholders before it is notified.

“We hope the government will consult us before promulgation. Once the Act comes, there will be little flexibility, so it’s important to get the industry’s inputs beforehand,” he said.

He also underlined the need for public-private partnerships (PPP) to make satellite connectivity more affordable for remote areas.

“People in remote areas need digital connection, but they cannot afford it. The government has to play an important role—through USOF or similar funds—to subsidise the cost to the last man,” he said.