Private sector participants in India’s growing space ecosystem welcome final version of India Space Policy 2023 released by Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) on Thursday.
According to experts, the policy not only provides the necessary legal certainty, but also helps startups and space businesses better understand policy-related issues.
However, some representatives of the space industry have warned that key regulations around spectrum allocation, foreign direct investment and frequency coordination have yet to be finalized.
After a three-year consultation process, India has finally announced its long-awaited policy, setting guidelines and rules for the country’s space ecosystem.
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The final version of the policy clearly defines the role of the newly established agency India’s National Space Promotion and Authorization Center (IN-SPACe), which seeks to partner with private players. individuals, including space technology startups.
“IN-SPACe will operate as an autonomous government organization, tasked with promoting, supporting, guiding and authorizing space activities in the country. For this purpose, IN-SPACe will periodically issue guidelines and procedures that will, among other things, make it easier to do business,” the policy says.
In addition, the roles of ISRO and NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) were also identified.
Kranthi Chand, Head of Strategy & Special Projects, Dhruva . Space
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In the last few years, space startups like Dhruva Space, Agnikul Cosmos, TeamIndus and Pixxel have started offering their services.
Notably, many of these start-ups have received funding and support from other countries.
Chand observes that there is a clear policy on cooperation between international organizations and the private sector not only on the commercialization of products and services but also on the development of next-generation technologies.
However, a top executive at Hughes, a global satellite technology company involved in the distribution of Bharti-backed OneWeb’s capacity in India, warned that the rules about the allocation spectrum, foreign direct investment, orbital allocation are not clearly covered in India’s Space Policy 2023.
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India and the Department of Telecommunications have yet to decide on the satellite spectrum allocation. The Department for the Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade has not yet determined the level of FDI for the space sector.
The CEO commented: “It is still early days.
Meanwhile, Indian Space Association (ISpA) General Manager AK Bhatt has said that the policy brings much needed clarity to all space activities and will help create opportunities for players private.
“It also clearly defines the role of IN-SPACe, as a one-stop agency for licensing space activities by government organizations as well as NGEs (non-governmental organizations). With this policy clarity, we are confident that IN-SPACe and DoT will work quickly to secure the necessary licenses for private players in India,” Bhatt said.
