The Indian space sector is entering an era of transformation

The Indian Space Congress 2024 kicked off with an exciting opening session, setting the tone for India’s growing position in the global space market. Dr. Subba Rao, President, SIA-Indiaunderlined the ambition of making India a major player in the global space ecosystem. He said, “The Indian ecosystem will be integrated with the global supply chain so that everyone can benefit from space. Our aim is to make India the hub of global satellite manufacturing and by 2047, we will become Viksit Bharat.

This vision is part of a broader trend of using space technology to develop various sectors, such as telecommunications, crisis management and others.

Innovation through multi-orbit strategy

The evolution of the satellite industry in India has been very gradual. A multi-orbit satellite strategy uses a network of satellites in different orbits to provide a range of solutions for different applications. This strategy aims to match the right application to the right orbit.

Deepk Mathur, Executive Vice President, SES Satellites emphasized the need for both reliability and breakthrough innovation. He emphasized the importance of a multi-orbit strategy for a variety of applications, stating:

“The multi-orbit strategy will serve more applications than ever before. The progress made in the last 2 years outstrips that made in the previous 28 years. Space connectivity is needed to bridge the digital divide, enable future mobility, extend the cloud to the edge, accelerate tracking of Earth observation datasets, and manage risks in conflict and disasters.”

Mathur also emphasized the importance of local solutions and collaboration to support a robust supply chain ecosystem in India.

The role of satellite technology in the development of the space sector

The growth of the Indian space sector is driven by several trends. Rainer Horn, managing partner at Novaspace identified four key trends driving this growth: a growing investor pool, affordable access to space, defense and security concerns, and growing demand for space applications.

These trends, combined with regulatory developments and improvements in LEO broadband and the Internet of Things, are creating fertile ground for innovation and investment.

AVM Rahul Bhasin, ACS (OPS) Space, Hqr Air he added on the importance of integrating space situational awareness with airborne situational awareness. He said: “There is a need for international cooperation in this area to ensure the safety and security of space resources.”

Anil Kumar Lahoti, Chairman TRAIhighlighted the role of satellite technology in providing high-speed broadband services and expanding connectivity to rural and pristine areas. It highlighted the potential of satellite technology in disaster management, sustainable development and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

The future of Indian space startups

The space sector has been a major success story for Indian startups, with technology players developing solutions that make India self-sufficient. Dr. Pawan Goenka, Chairman, InSpace, highlighted the rapid growth of the Indian space startup ecosystem.

He said, “There are over 200 startups currently operating in the Indian space sector. There has been a lot of change in the space sector over the last 12 months, both from government and the private sector. We are working on two areas, one is the entire regulatory and authorization space where we are making good progress, and the other is driving the Indian space economy. These two paths: scientific exploitation, in which ISRO excels, and all space startups are deep-tech driven and are at an inflection point.

Somanath, Secretary DoS and Chairman ISRO discussed the challenges and opportunities associated with the transition to greater private sector participation in the Indian space sector.

He said, “The journey of Indian space actors has not been easy. New actors must emerge, from government to private ones. Within ISRO and DOS we have to chart the future. The gap between civilian space and strategic space is becoming smaller. Access to space must become cheaper. Exploration inspires this generation and future generations, but we must develop the technology to do so.”

He raised the issues of reducing the cost of access to space, the creation of communication constellations and the need to inspire future generations through space exploration.