According to news agency Reuters, India’s space authority has given the go-ahead for Reliance Industries’ Jio Platforms, in collaboration with Luxembourg’s SES, to operate satellites for internet access at high speeds.
The Project Received Three Approvals
An official in the government claims that Orbit Connect India, Reliance Industries’ Jio Platforms aimed at providing internet access through satellite technology, has received three clearances. Orbit Connect can station satellites above India thanks to these approvals, which were granted by the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) in April and June. These permit Orbit Connect to run satellites above India, but before it can start operations, other permissions from the nation’s telecoms department are required.
Apporavals Received By Other Companies
According to IN-SPACe chairman Pawan Goenka, Inmarsat, an alternate company that aims to offer high-speed satellite-based internet, has also received permission to operate satellites over India. Further, Kuiper from Amazon.com and Starlink from Elon Musk are the other two businesses that have applied. Late last year, Eutelsat’s OneWeb, funded by Bharti Enterprises, received all of its approvals. Sri Lanka granted Starlink initial permission to offer internet services there last week.
Goenka’s Take
Goenka, a former managing director of Mahindra & Mahindra, stated, “Comparatively low pricing of communication services in India will compel global players to drive innovation to reduce their pricing.”
“This is already being done in many industries like automotive, where multinational OEMs had to innovate to meet the expectations of Indian consumers of high performance and low cost.”
He added that IN-SPACe will soon allow private companies to run ground stations, allowing satellite operators to download data as they fly over India.
India’s Market For Satellite Broadband Services
The Deloitte consulting firm anticipates that India’s market for satellite broadband services will expand at a rate of 36% annually over the next five years, reaching a value of $1.9 billion by 2030.
The competition to deploy space-based internet to link remote regions of the planet is picking up speed globally. Amazon said in 2019 that it would invest $10 billion in Kuiper, the company that SpaceX started using to launch its first Starlink satellites into orbit.
Interest from investors has increased due to the government’s recent policy changes, which include freeing up the space sector to foreign direct investment. This has resulted in more funding than in prior years.
“Last year investments into private companies were $2 million-$7 million. This year they are talking $20 million-$30 million. The proof of concept has happened,” Goenka said.
Let us know your thoughts about Reliance Industries’ Jio Platforms getting approval.
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