TV channels told to seek IN-SPACe nod before using foreign satellite capacity

Mumbai: The ministry of information and broadcasting (MIB) has directed satellite TV channels and teleport operators to seek government-backed Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre’s (IN-SPACe) authorisation for utilising foreign satellite capacity for providing broadcasting services.

In an advisory dated July 10, the MIB stated that the existing arrangements for provisioning of capacity in C, Ku or Ka frequency bands from foreign satellite operators can be extended till March 31, 2025.

“Effective from 01.04.2025 only IN-SPACe authorised non-Indian GSO satellites and/or NGSO satellite constellations are permitted for provisioning their capacity to provide space based communication/ broadcast services in India,” the advisory reads.

The ministry also stated that applications for authorisation must be submitted through IN-SPACe website by an Indian entity, which could be an Indian subsidiary, joint venture/collaboration, or an authorised dealer/representative of the foreign satellite operator in India.

Currently, NewSpace India, a public sector undertaking under Department of Space, leases transponder capacity in C, Ku and extended C band from both Indian and foreign satellites.

According to the Department of Space, 18 communication satellites were operating over India with communication transponders in C-band, Extended C-band, Ku-band, Ka/Ku band, and S-band, as of March 2023.About 70 transponders in Ku-Band and HTS capacity of 1.6 GHz were leased from international satellite operators while an additional 40 transponders in C-band were directly leased by the broadcasters for TV uplinking.