India set to be "crucial market" for global satellite Industry, says GSOA Director General
New Delhi, July 22
India is poised to become one of the fastest-growing markets in the global satellite economy over the next five years, according to Isabelle Mauro, Director General of the Global Satellite Operators Association, who said the country's vast rural geography makes it a natural fit for satellite-based connectivity.
In an exclusive interview to ANI, Mauro said the satellite industry views India with considerable ambition, noting that large parts of the country remain economically unviable for terrestrial telecom infrastructure, making satellite connectivity essential to bridging that gap.
On whether India could emerge as one of the world's largest satellite broadband markets, with companies including Starlink, Eutelsat OneWeb, and Amazon Kuiper preparing to expand operations in the country, Mauro said these were just three of GSOA's 70-plus member companies eyeing opportunities in India. She said satellite broadband and backhaul services present major opportunities, comparing the current moment in the satellite sector to the early days of mobile telephony roughly two decades ago. She also pointed to Reliance Jio's satellite ambitions as a sign of growing domestic interest in space.
On GSOA's recommendations to the Indian government, Mauro outlined three priorities. First, she called for structural predictability, urging regulators to design licensing frameworks that account for the long investment and life cycles of satellite technology, which differ significantly from terrestrial telecom. Second, she cautioned against "regulatory copy-pasting," stressing that satellite technology and business models are fundamentally different from terrestrial infrastructure and require purpose-built regulation rather than adapted terrestrial rules. Third, she urged the government to adopt cost-recovery-based economic models rather than treating satellite spectrum as a new revenue stream, warning that overly extractive pricing could undermine the goal of connecting unconnected populations.
Asked whether Skyroot Aerospace's progress in launch vehicle development could make India a more competitive destination for global satellite operators seeking cost-effective launches, Mauro said she believes there is room for multiple players in the market. Speaking as a representative of the European satellite industry herself, she said the projected scale of future satellite launches dwarfs figures from a decade ago, leaving space for efficient, competitive companies from any region, including India, to play a meaningful role on the global stage.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Finally someone in the industry understands that India isn't just a market but a partner. The comparison with early mobile telephony days is spot on - remember when we thought phones were only for the rich? Now every chaiwala has one. Satellite internet could be that game-changer for education in rural schools. Hope our policymakers listen to these recommendations.
Happy to see Skyroot Aerospace getting a mention. But I'm a bit cautious about foreign players like Starlink coming in. Yes, competition is good, but we must ensure our own ISRO and private space startups aren't pushed aside. Make in India should be the priority, not just importing tech. 😤
This is exactly what we need - satellite connectivity for our remote areas where even mobile towers don't work. But please, no more bureaucratic delays. If other countries can launch these services quickly, why can't we? Hope the government fast-tracks the licensing and spectrum allocation. Our students in hilly regions have waited long enough for proper internet.
As someone who works in digital inclusion, I appreciate the emphasis on connecting the unconnected. The point about not treating spectrum as a revenue stream is crucial. India has the geography and the talent. Let's hope the regulatory framework follows actual needs instead of being a copy-paste from other industries.
Love the vision but let's be real - will rural consumers afford this? Even 4G data packs are a stretch for many. Satellites are expensive and someone has to pay. Either the government subsidizes heavily
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