Prior Authorisation Mandatory For Operating Non-Indian Satellites Post March 2025: MIB

Post March 2025, only authorised satellites and satellite constellations will be allowed to offer space-based communication services in India.

In an advisory dated July 10, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) directed non-Indian satellite operators to seek “fresh authorisation” from Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) before April 1, 2025 to continue offering space-based communication services in the country.

“Effective from April 1, 2025 only IN-SPACe authorised non-Indian GSO (geosynchronous orbit) satellites and/or NGSO (non-geosynchronous orbit) satellite constellation are permitted for provisioning their capacity to provide space-based communication/ broadcast services in India,” said MIB. 

The existing arrangements/mechanisms/processes for provisioning of capacity in any of the frequency bands (C, Ku or Ka) from the non-Indian satellite operators can be extended till March 31, 2025, added the advisory. 

In addition, the ministry also directed all satellite television broadcasters to seek authorisation from nodal space body IN-SPACe before using non-Indian satellites from April 1 next year. 

Citing the Indian Space Policy guidelines released earlier this year, the MIB also said that entities offering space-based communication services in India will also have to seek authorisation from IN-SPACe for adding new satellite capacity or “change in satellites” via an Indian entity.

As per the advisory, all applications will have to be routed online through IN-SPACe website via an Indian entity that “could be an Indian subsidiary, joint venture/ collaboration, or an authorised dealer/representative of the non-Indian satellite operator in India”.

Simply put, foreign companies can also apply for approval through their Indian subsidiaries or joint ventures with any local company. 

The latest development comes two months after IN-SPACe in May this year released the guidelines for the implementation of the Indian Space Policy 2023, which encompassed rules regarding authorisation for space activities in the country. 

This follows the Indian Space Policy which was unveiled last year, which aims to establish a framework for integrating the private sector into the space industry and bring reforms to boost their participation in the industry.

The development comes at a time when more and more Indian companies and foreign firms are lining up to launch satellite communication (satcom) services in India. Last month, IN-SPACe chairman Pawan Goenka reportedly said that the applications of Elon Musk-led Starlink and Amazon-owned Project Kuiper was under the consideration of the space body for landing rights authorisation in the country.

On the other hand, Indian conglomerates Bharti Enterprises-backed Eutelsat OneWeb and Reliance Jio’s satcom joint venture Orbit Connect India have already secured global mobile personal communication by satellite services (GMPCS) licences from the government.

India’s satcom industry is witnessing heated competition as companies look to gain first mover advantage in the space. The service could be used to roll out high speed internet in the country’s hinterlands even as apprehensions remain over the cost chargeable to end users. 

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