Bengaluru, 02 January 2024: NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), the commercial arm of ISRO and a Government of India company under the Department of Space, is set to embark on its second Demand-Driven satellite mission, featuring the high-throughput Ka-band satellite, GSAT-20 (now GSAT-N2). Slated for the 2nd quarter of 2024, this mission aims to address the burgeoning broadband communication needs of the nation.
In alignment with the Space Sector reforms introduced by the Government of India in June 2020, NSIL has been entrusted with the responsibility to construct, launch, own, and operate satellites in a “Demand-Driven mode” to cater to user service requirements. Building on the success of its 15th Demand-Driven satellite mission, GSAT-24, conducted in June 2022, NSIL is making significant strides in satellite communication. GSAT-24’s capacity was entirely secured by TataPlay, with NSIL fully funding the mission. At present, NSIL oversees the operation of 11 communication satellites in orbit.
Following this successful model, NSIL is gearing up for its next venture in the 2nd quarter of 2024 – the GSAT-20 satellite mission. This mission aims to provide cost-effective Ka-band High-Throughput Satellite (HTS) capacity, primarily catering to broadband communication needs, as well as requirements for Integrated Fleet Management Communication (IFMC) and cellular backhaul services. A significant portion of the HTS capacity on the GSAT-20 satellite has already been contracted by Indian service providers.
GSAT-20 boasts Ka-Ka band HTS capacity with 32 beams, ensuring Pan-India coverage, including the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep islands. NSIL is collaborating with ISRO for the realization of the GSAT-20 satellite, and the launch is scheduled on board the Falcon-9 under a Launch Service Contract with SpaceX, USA. Weighing 4700 kg, GSAT-20 offers HTS capacity of nearly 48 Gbps. The satellite’s design is specifically tailored to meet the demanding service needs of remote and unconnected regions, ushering in a new era of connectivity for India.
