Page 18 - The Indian EYE 081922

The Indian Eye
OPINION - INDEPENDENCE DAY SPECIAL AUGUST 19, 2022 18

SpaceX and Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin,
a flourishing private space industry
has arisen, offering a range of space
services.
India’s share in the global space
market is miniscule, despite rising
demand. The reason is that ISRO
has had a near-monopoly over the
supply of these services, and its pri-
mary focus has been developmental
and scientific applications for the
use of the government and its agen-
cies.
The demand for dedicated
communication (Satcom) capacity,
as well as Earth Observation (EO)
applications is rising rapidly. Large
corporates are willing to invest in
their own satellite, thereby ensur-
ing captive capacity for their future
needs. New applications like in-
flight and maritime broadband con-
nectivity, and government initiatives
like Digital India and Bharatnet of-
fer new opportunities for companies
in the Indian Satcom market. With
growth in EO technology, mining
companies can replace their field
equipment with satellite-based ana-
lytical and monitoring tools.
As of now, Satcom services’
demand in India is estimated at
around $11 billion. This does not
reflect true demand, because of the
supply-driven framework.
ISRO’s in-house capacity pro- Students dressed up in traditional attires as they take part in a Tiranga rally from Governor House to Morabadi ground, marking Har Ghar
vides communication mainly to Tiranga campaign under the aegis of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, in Ranchi on Saturday. (ANI Photo)
remote geographical areas and is-
lands, which terrestrial cables can- pacity is almost fully utilized for the with foreign companies willing to in- cy involved in defence applications
not access economically. Imported requirements of the government and vest in bringing satellite technology means that these products have to
satcom services are considerably its agencies. To meet the demand to India. be indigenously manufactured, ser-
more costly, thereby depressing from other users, it imports and re- viced and upgraded. There may be
demand. When the private sector sells data, making it more expensive. opportunities for reputed Indian
manufactures and launches satel- The new policy will permit privately ISRO has equipped IN-SPACe companies in this area.
lites, the market will move to a truly owned and operated space-based with a technical lab with state- There has already been a rapid
demand-driven situation. INSPACe remote sensing systems for activities growth in space start-ups and com-
will oversee the rollout of policies to within and outside India. of-the-art equipment for de- panies upgrading manufacturing
enable privately-owned communica- The demand for geospatial sign, fabrication, integration capability in the space sector. An in-
tion satellites and ground stations, data in India is projected to grow to dustry body, the Indian Space Asso-
with allotment of suitable orbital nearly $12 billion by 2029-30. The and testing of satellites, which ciation, has been formed to promote
slots to them. government has recently taken mea- will be available to Indian com- the interests of this nascent industry
The first important step in com-
mercializing launch vehicle produc- sures to nurture and develop the panies. More modern facilities and for policy advocacy with the
geospatial ecosystem of the coun-
government and its agencies. This is
tion was taken with the award of try. It has lifted the requirement and infrastructure are to be an important role at this stage, when
a contract for manufacturing five of licence or prior approval for the the government, ISRO and the pri-
Polar Satellite Launch Vehicles collection, generation, dissemina- made available to the space in- vate space industry are all seeking
(PSLVs) to a consortium of the pub- tion, storage and/or digitisation of dustry. to evolve an optimal public-private
lic sector undertaking Hindustan geospatial data and maps. This will partnership.
Aeronautics Limited and the private spur growth in downstream appli- The use of space-based tech- If the reforms progress as pro-
sector company Larsen & Toubro, cations by significantly reducing the nologies in warfare, intelligence jected, the Indian space sector
for $103 million. price of high-resolution data and its and defence has been highlighted should generate – in domestic sales
Earth observation data for satel-
lite imagery is also an under-provid- applications. by recent conflicts in West Asia and and exports – at least USD 50 billion
Ukraine. Space-based systems for
of revenues by 2025.
As the repository of space tech-
ed market, since regulations hither- nologies, ISRO has a crucial role to defence communications, high-res-
to mandated that data requirement play in sharing them with Indian in- olution imagery for target detection The author, Distinguished Fellow
of customers should be sourced only dustry. Indian entrepreneurs could and other real-time information are of the Vivekananda International Foun-
through ISRO. Again, ISRO’s ca- dation, is a former diplomat
also build technology partnerships important defence needs. The secre-

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