Russia is making steady progress on its own satellite internet network, known as “Rassvet” (which translates to “dawn”). The project, led by Bureau 1440, is part of a broader push to reduce reliance on foreign technology, especially in communications. After a series of recent tests, Rassvet is now edging closer to real-world deployment and could eventually compete with SpaceX’s Starlink. Real Progress So far there has been successful testing of laser communication between satellites and this is very important for modern satellite constellations. According to available data, these inter-satellite links have reached speeds of up to 10 Gbps, with low latency. That…
Author: Huma Siddiqui
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India’s regional satellite navigation system NavIC has slipped below the minimum operational threshold after the final functioning atomic clock aboard the IRNSS-1F satellite failed on March 13, leaving the constellation with only three satellites capable of supporting navigation services. Satellite navigation systems require signals from at least four satellites with functioning atomic clocks to calculate a precise three-dimensional position on Earth. With IRNSS-1F no longer able to transmit reliable timing data, India’s indigenous navigation constellation currently lacks the minimum satellite geometry required for a standalone positioning solution. The development has drawn attention within the space community because NavIC , short…
India has taken a significant step toward formalising space education at the school level with the unveiling of “CubeSat 101: Inception to Operations” at DefSat 2026 in Delhi. Described as the world’s first high school curriculum book dedicated to satellite development, the programme introduces structured, end-to-end CubeSat training for students. Developed by Chennai-based Space Kidz India, the curriculum is set to become India’s first space-focused Micro Diploma programme. The book was formally released by Dr. Vinod Kumar, Director, Promotion Directorate at the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe). A certification was presented to Dr. Srimathy Kesan, Founder and CEO of…
The final day of DefSat 2026 included the release of a dedicated cybersecurity framework for the space and satellite communications sector. It also featured strategic deliberations by the newly formed Space Strategic Group (SSG) and the fourth edition of the IndSpaceX Wargame. A key development during the three-day event which ended February 26 was the unveiling of Cyber Security Guidelines for space systems by CERT-In in collaboration with SIA-India. The framework spans satellites, ground infrastructure, communication networks, supply chains and user interfaces, and calls for the integration of cyber safeguards at the mission design stage. Dr Sanjay Bahl, Director General, CERT-In, said, “CERT-In…
Space is no longer merely an enabler but has become the central pillar of military power, the Director General of Military Intelligence Lt Gen RS Raman said on Tuesday. Delivering the keynote address on “Decoding Adversarial Military Space Domain” at the DefSat Conference organised by the Satcom Industry Association-India (SIA-India), he said military competition has decisively expanded beyond terrestrial boundaries, creating an urgent need for sovereign capabilities and strategic clarity in orbit. The session was introduced by Lt Gen Rakesh Kapoor (Retd), former Deputy Chief of Army Staff. Lt Gen Raman outlined four categories of space actors: a nation’s own…
The Quad has taken a concrete step into the Pacific’s digital space, backing a nationwide 4G and 5G rollout in Palau that will use Open RAN architecture, the first such deployment in the Pacific Islands. Palau’s telecom operator has selected three American firms to build the network, following technical assistance supported by the United States. The project is expected to be operational by early 2027. What makes the move significant is not just the technology, but who is standing behind it. India, Japan and Australia have formally joined the initiative alongside the United States. India came on board at the…
India has emerged as a global reference point for inclusive artificial intelligence, particularly for countries in the Global South seeking to align innovation with development goals, believes Paula Bogantes Zamora, Costa Rica’s Minister of Science, Innovation, Technology and Telecommunications. In an exclusive interaction with StratNewsGlobal Tech on the sidelines of the Global AI summit in New Delhi, she said at a time when governments are rethinking economic strategies around emerging technologies, the message of inclusive AI, championed at the highest political level, is resonating far beyond national borders. Describing India as a “point of reference” across sectors ranging from education…
As New Delhi prepares to host the AI Summit next week, India’s space industry is positioning artificial intelligence as a key driver of innovation, safety, and competitiveness. Industry leaders say AI is no longer an optional tool, it has become the “operating layer” of the country’s growing space economy. AI Reshapes The Space Value Chain Lt. Gen. AK Bhatt (Retd.), Director General of the Indian Space Association, highlighted how AI is transforming the entire value chain. He explained that Indian companies are increasingly using AI for everything from onboard satellite processing and automated image interpretation to predictive satellite health monitoring and…
India’s space and geospatial sector have sought fiscal and policy interventions to support a fast growing but capital-intensive industry. Since policy liberalisation, structural issues around taxation, financing and demand creation continue to constrain scale. The Space Industry Association of India (SIA-India), has called for closer alignment between fiscal policy and the economic realities of space activities. “Representing satellite operators, launch service providers, manufacturers, startups and downstream service companies, the association acknowledges that as the sector transitions from a largely mission-centric model to a globally competitive commercial space economy, our fiscal frameworks must evolve to reflect the capital-intensive, long-gestation nature of…
India’s latest drogue parachute qualification tests for the Gaganyaan programme place the country firmly among the small group of spacefaring nations that operate human-class re-entry and recovery systems. With these tests, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has demonstrated that its approach to astronaut safety now stands alongside mature systems such as SpaceX’s Crew Dragon, Russia’s Soyuz and NASA’s Orion. While all of these vehicles follow the broadly similar philosophy of a blunt-body capsule slowed by a multi-stage parachute system, the engineering choices, test strategies and operational goals behind them reflect very different national priorities and mission profiles. On 18–19…