The government has issued an advisory for satellite television broadcasters, requiring them to seek authorisation from the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe), for using non-Indian satellites starting April 1, 2025.
In May 2024, IN-SPACe released norms, guidelines, and procedures (NGP) for implementing the Indian Space Policy 2023. As per the guidelines, only IN-SPACe authorised non-Indian satellites will be allowed to provide services in India.
The existing arrangements for capacity provision in frequency bands (C, Ku, or Ka) from non-Indian satellite operators can continue until March 31, 2025. After this date, only IN-SPACe authorised non-Indian geostationary (GSO) satellites and/or non-geostationary (NGSO) satellite constellations can offer space-based communication/broadcast services in India.
The government advisory, directed to all private television channel broadcasters and teleport operators also specifies that any new or additional capacity or changes to satellites on non-Indian satellites/constellations will require IN-SPACe authorisation through an Indian entity for communication/broadcast services within Indian territory.
