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Astronautics
of ISRO dealing with remote sensing data reception,
processing and dissemination to users.
However, withNewSpace companies planning to
build their own satellite platformcapabilities in the
upstreamandwith space-based services and big-data
platforms emerging on the downstream, there are a host
of challenges for issues such as frequency allocation and
fleet operations (setting up ground stations), licensing
of remote sensing satellites (including data distribution),
launch authorisation of spacecraft in linewith theOuter
Space Treaty (especiallywhen a foreign launcher is
procured by an Indian company), among others.
Regulatory framework
It has to be noted that India does have a defined
framework for participation of the private sector in
the commercial communications services realm. A
SatCom policy was made almost two decades ago
that allows making an application to the Committee
for Authorising the establishment and operations of
Indian Satellite Systems (CAISS). This permits private
Indian companies with a foreign equity of less than
74 percent to establish Indian satellite systems.
Under this policy, the CAISS is responsible for
private operators to be provided with authorisation
to operate the satellite and notification/registration
of the orbit and spectrum thought the Department
of Telecommunication and the Ministry of
Information and Broadcasting will provide the
operating licenses for services.
Given the recent proliferation of upstream EO
private sector activities across the world, the potential
participation of Indian private companies was
possibly over-looked. There is still a gap, however, in
authorising (frequency allocation, operations, launch,
data distribution) where the private sector wants to
establish a complete capacity to sell EO services.
A transparent regulatory framework has a
strong effect on attracting large scale investments
especially from private risk capital. Given the
nature of the space industry, high sums of capital
investment remain one of the fundamental
requirements for expansion of upstream capabilities
for NewSpace India companies seeking to establish
end-to-end platform capabilities. Similarly, a
transparent data policy on using different sources of
data (national and foreign high-resolution satellites
and ground-based data) is to be rolled out to create a
vibrant geospatial services ecosystem.
Therefore, it becomes necessary that an
ecosystem perspective is taken to encourage
NewSpace in India by creating an independent,
single-window led, transparent and time capped
framework taking into account both upstream and
downstream requirements across the value chain.
Creating dynamism
There is no doubt that India’s NewSpace
entrepreneurs can leverage the infrastructure
and the capacity created over five decades
of investments into the space sector by the
Government. The country stands in a realm
of several complementary and convergence
technologies that is enabling several new space-
based services that are waiting to be tapped for
economic and societal benefits. Within India’s own
ecosystem, there are significant opportunities for
NewSpace to complement the efforts of ISRO and
provide new and innovative services.
Today, there is a combined responsibility for the
NewSpace entrepreneurs in India to come together
and create a community to pursue the expansion
of the space economy of the country. A community
creation drive should work towards benefiting
everyone within the ecosystem (across the value
chain) and lead to creating a holistic environment for
triggering changes in the policy realm, bringing in
investor confidence (especially from an institutional
investment perspective) and possibly opening up
the drive for foreign direct investment (FDI), which
can ultimately lead to a greater global integration of
India’s space supply chain.
About the author
Narayan Prasad
is co-founder of satsearch.co and curator of NewSpace
India, a digital platform providing analysis of issues in technology, policy,
economics, commercialisation, geo-politics and defence around the
Indian space programme. He has a Master in Space Technology (Erasmus
Mundus, Sweden), a Master in Space Techniques and Instrumentation
(France) and a Master in Space & Telecom Laws from the Center for Air &
Space Law of NALSAR Law University, Hyderabad, India.
New space-
based services
are waiting
to be tapped
for economic
and societal
benefits
