Reliance and SES Joint Venture Gets Green Light
A joint venture between Reliance Industries’ Jio Platforms and Luxembourg-based SES has received approval from the Indian space regulator to operate satellites in India. This approval paves the way for providing gigabit fibre internet across the country.
Regulatory Approvals and Future Steps
The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) granted three authorisations to Orbit Connect India in April and June. These approvals allow the operation of satellites over India. However, further permissions from the Department of Telecommunications are required to begin operations.
Global and Local Competition
The race for satellite-based internet services in India includes global players such as Amazon’s Kuiper and Elon Musk’s Starlink. IN-SPACe chairman Pawan Goenka confirmed that Inmarsat also received approval. OneWeb, backed by Eutelsat and Bharti Enterprises, secured all necessary approvals last year.
Market Growth and Investments
India’s satellite broadband market is projected to grow by 36% annually over the next five years, reaching $1.9 billion by 2030, according to Deloitte. This market growth is attracting significant investments. For example, Amazon plans to invest $10 billion in its Kuiper project.
Government Initiatives and Industry Impact
Prime Minister Modi’s government is actively promoting the development of India’s space industry. This year, it opened the sector to foreign direct investment, allowing up to 100% investment in satellite components and systems without approval. This policy has led to a significant increase in investor interest.
IN-SPACe plans to authorise private companies to operate ground stations soon, facilitating data downloads for satellite operators. The competition among global companies is expected to drive innovation and reduce prices for Indian consumers.
