India has taken a firm and significant decision to bolster its national security by initiating a ban on the use of Chinese-linked satellites within its borders. This strategic move comes amidst growing geopolitical uncertainties, aiming to strengthen the nation's security infrastructure, while the immediate impact of this decision is being felt by several prominent broadcasters and teleport operators across the country, who are now compelled to seek alternative satellite providers to continue their services.
Rejection of Chinese-Linked Satellites
IN-SPACe, India's regulatory body for the space sector, has explicitly rejected proposals from companies such as China's Chinasat and Hong Kong-based ApStar and AsiaSat, which sought to provide satellite services to Indian firms, while this decision underscores India's security priorities and signals the government's intent to reconfigure its relationships with foreign satellite providers. AsiaSat, in particular, faces significant challenges due to this ban, having operated in India for approximately 33 years.
AsiaSat's Predicament and Future
AsiaSat, a company with a decades-long presence in the Indian market, now confronts an uncertain future, while only two of its satellites, AS5 and AS7, have received operational approval until March 2025. Conversely, its proposals for other satellites, including AS6, AS8, and AS9, have been rejected by the regulator. This situation presents a major hurdle for AsiaSat, as it must now devise a. New strategy and engage in discussions with the regulator to maintain its services in India. The company's long-standing operations highlight the depth of this regulatory shift.
Broadcasters Shifting Platforms
A 33-Year-Old Company's Plea
As a direct consequence of this government decision, major broadcasters like JioStar and Zee are required to transition their services from AsiaSat 5 and 7 to other satellites by March 2025, while according to sources, these companies have already commenced the necessary preparations to prevent any potential disruption to their services. Zee has confirmed that it has successfully migrated all its services to alternative satellites such as GSAT-30, GSAT-17, and Intelsat-20, while a spokesperson for Zee clarified that none of their services are currently on AsiaSat-7, indicating the swiftness and seriousness of this transition. However, IN-SPACe, JioStar, and ApStar have yet to issue official comments on the matter. AsiaSat is actively engaging in discussions with IN-SPACe to continue its operations in India. Rajdeepsingh Gohil, MD of Inorbit Space, AsiaSat's partner company in India, stated that they've held multiple rounds of meetings with IN-SPACe's top management. Gohil expressed surprise that despite providing services in India for 33 years and adhering to all relevant regulations (MIB, DoT, DoS, and MHA), they aren't being granted long-term approval. According to him, the regulator has not yet provided a clear reason for the rejection, although it has acknowledged AsiaSat's contributions to India. This situation reflects a growing stringency in India's regulatory environment for foreign companies.
Major Regulatory Shift in Space Sector
This entire development is part of a broader regulatory transformation occurring within India's space sector. Under the new regulations, all foreign satellites must now obtain mandatory approval from IN-SPACe to operate in India, while while other foreign companies like Intelsat, Starlink, OneWeb, and Inmarsat have received approvals, companies with Chinese links are explicitly being shown the exit. This policy shift aligns with India's national security and self-reliance objectives.
Towards a Self-Reliant Space Sector
Officials indicate that previously, India faced a shortage of indigenous satellite capacity, which necessitated approving even Chinese-linked satellites. However, with the increasing capacity of domestic satellites like GSAT, India has become sufficiently self-reliant in this domain. The government is placing significant emphasis on self-reliance in critical sectors like space for national security. India's ambitious goal is to expand its space economy to $44 billion by 2033, with satellite communication playing a crucial role, while by banning Chinese satellites, India isn't only enhancing its security but also fostering its domestic space industry, thereby contributing to the realization of the 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' (Self-Reliant India) vision.