How India’s satellite revolution is forging a collaborative future

India’s satcom sector is uniting government ambition with private innovation to bridge the digital divide. This collaborative revolution promises to connect every citizen

In the vast, ambitious expanse of India, a quiet revolution is taking place, one that promises to beam connectivity into its most remote corners and redefine its digital destiny. The stage for this transformation was set at the inaugural Satcom Summit, held during the Asia-Pacific’s largest digital technology forum, the India Mobile Congress 2025. Within the gleaming convention centre, a powerful consensus emerged: satellite communication (satcom) is no longer a niche technology, but the essential backbone for a truly inclusive and developed India. The summit, inaugurated by a veritable who’s who of India’s space and communications leadership, was imbued with a sense of historic momentum.

Satcom as a national necessity

Setting the tone with a powerful, humancentric vision, Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia articulated the profound societal impact of this technological leap. “Satcom means doctor in every home and teacher in the remotest classroom,” he declared, framing it not as a luxury but as a “national necessity and backbone of robust infrastructure.” He pointed to the groundbreaking NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission as proof that India is not merely participating in the global space race but is actively innovating. India, he stated, has become the world's pace setter.

This sentiment was echoed by Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh, who elaborated on the deliberate crafting of a collaborative ecosystem. “India is creating an ecosystem for satellite communication. We are increasingly collaborating with foreign space agencies for experiments to innovate. Domestically, public private partnerships are transforming the space sector as they are extremely effective and efficient.” He further highlighted the strategic importance of spacetech, noting its ‘huge bearing on defence and atomic energy’, underscoring the sector's multifaceted role in national security and development.

From the helm of India’s premier space agency, Dr. V. Narayanan, Chairman, ISRO provided a glimpse of the scale required to meet these ambitions. “India has come a long way since its first space mission. We are now placing more than 100 satellites in a single launch,” he remarked, showcasing the formidable launch capabilities that underpin this new era. His focus, however, remained firmly on the end goal. To achieve the national vision of a developed India by 2047, he issued a clear call to action. “We are ensuring connectivity to the last mile citizen and enabling industrial efficiency. We need to work on developing an extensive network for satellites.”

The collaborative road ahead

While the governmental vision is clear, the path forward hinges on a synergistic partnership between the public and private sectors. The industry’s perspective, voiced at the summit, highlighted both the immense potential and the practical hurdles that need addressing. Lt Gen AK Bhatt (Retd.), Director General of the Indian Space Association (ISpA), provided a candid assessment of the regulatory landscape. “India's satellite spectrum landscape presents sizable opportunities but requires strategic intervention. The current demand projections are realistic. Spectrum allocation delays are hindering industry progress,” he quipped with a caution. His solution was a call for a balanced regulatory approach, “A balanced regulatory approach is crucial, one that supports both public and private players, drives innovation, and protects national interests. By creating a flexible framework that reduces entry barriers and accelerates allocation processes, we can unlock the full potential of India's space technology ecosystem.”

This view from the industry association was complemented by the on-the-ground experience of global players entering Indian market. Parnil Urdhwareshe, Director, Starlink, India, praised India's unique position. “India is truly a unique market, home to world-class technologists, innovative use cases and has played a pivotal role in making technology ubiquitous,” he said. Looking ahead, he emphasised the importance of continuous policy support for Next-Generation Satellite Orbits (NGSO) and the proactive efforts of the DoT and IN-SPACe. “As we expand our presence, particularly in rural regions, our goal is to complement existing services and meet India’s growing demand for world-class internet experiences,” Urdhwareshe said.

Forging the future together

The way forward is a tripartite model—a powerful fusion of government vision, public sector prowess from organisations like ISRO, and the agility and innovation of the private sector, both domestic and international. It is a model where IN-SPACe acts as the vital facilitator, where spectrum policy is designed for agility, and where the distinct strengths of GEO, MEO, and LEO satellites are woven together into a resilient, ubiquitous tapestry of connectivity.

The mission to bridge India’s digital divide has found its most powerful ally in the skies above. The journey to connect every classroom, every clinic, and every citizen is well and truly underway, propelled by a rare alignment of political will, technological capability, and a collective commitment to an inclusive future. The revolution is not coming; it is already here, and it is being forged through collaboration.