Page 39 - Mann Ki Baat, October 2022

Satellite Communication Driving India’s

Tech Ambitions

and development activities.
Since then, India’s
advancement in the space
industry has been on a
trajectory of significant growth
demonstrating its highly cost-
effective capabilities and marking
its place amongst the elite club of
nations.
The Hon’ble Prime Minister
once cited India’s space especially the startups, is a witness to this launch with our
necessary contingent to making valued partners at ISRO and NSIL.
programme as the perfect
Sunil Bharti Mittal us competitive with the rest of the I personally, would like to
example of- Scale, Speed, and Skill.
Founder & Chairman, In line with his vision, it is evident world in terms of scale, quality, size, laud our Prime Minister for his
Bharti Enterprises that for the digital economy and and innovation and applications. visionary leadership in opening
India’s growing capacity for
up the space sector for private
India’s growing clout in the global
technology landscape, satellite satellite communication can be participation. I also extend my
The evolution of space communications hold significant harnessed to meet the country’s gratitude to ISRO, NSIL and the
activities in India dates back relevance. Satellite and space, communications demands. Indian authorities for matching
to 1963 when the first sounding therefore, are essential pillars in ISRO’s partnership with Bharti the precise schedule for this
rocket was launched from the the overall mission of connecting Enterprises-backed OneWeb, launch, which has been done in a
Thumba Equatorial Rocket people to the digital economy. for its biggest commercial record time.
Launching Station (TERLS) by Satellite communications are launch with LMV3 assumes I am confident that this will be
the Indian National Committee emerging as an important part great significance, signifying a first among many in attracting
for Space Research (INCOSPAR) of India’s ambitions to scale up a landmark stepping stone to a plethora of commercial
under the leadership of Dr quality internet access across enabling satellite-based internet partnerships for NSIL and further,
Vikram Sarabhai. Since then, the country. The Government has in remote and rural parts of India. that these developments will
India has achieved several strived to bring in place various The successful launch spur innovation in the space
milestones in the space industry reforms in the space ecosystem of the OneWeb constellation and communications sector,
including the development of which have further ensured the programme brings us even underlining benefits in terms of
satellite applications such as mission of the delivery of internet closer a step closer to delivering applications, opportunities and
telecommunications, earth to over 130 crore Indians. One of connectivity in hardest-to-reach economic growth for all of India.
observation, meteorology and the most significant ones remains regions in India, particularly With the commercialization
navigation. increasing the participation of those areas that are hindered by and privatisation of the Indian
Over the years, ISRO’s growth private enterprises in the space roadblocks to assuring terrestrial space sector, India has truly
and endeavours have placed the sector. network connectivity. opened doors to the development
Indian space program among Private players have ushered For all of us at Bharti Global, the of the space ecosystem, the
India’s national development in a new era of innovation launch of OneWeb’s 36 satellites inclusive growth of the Indian
goals. In March 2019, with the for developing space-based from the Satish Dhawan Space economy and the transformation
establishment of NewSpace applications and services. It is Centre SDSC-SHAR, Sriharikota of the lives of Indians across
India Limited, India ventured to safe to say that opening up the is a matter of immense pride. the lengths and breadths of the
commercialise ISRO’s research space sector for private players, We are fortunate to have been nation.
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