As part of the Indian government’s effort to strengthen data sovereignty and lessen dependency on foreign satellite data, thirty Indian companies have indicated interest in creating a domestic satellite constellation. The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe) is leading this initiative. In July 2024, it issued a call for expressions of interest (EoI) with the goal of establishing a network of Earth observation (EO) satellites using a paradigm of public-private collaboration.
The 30 businesses are divided into nine consortiums, including well-known players like Tata Advanced Systems and Pixxel, which is funded by Google, among them. This wide range of engagement shows how interested people are in India’s developing space industry.
The winning bidder will receive up to ₹3.5 billion (about $42 million) in loans from the government, with private businesses paying the remaining expenses. This funding is a component of a larger plan to boost India’s modest satellite and data services business, which is expected to grow to $45 billion by 2030.
A minimum investment of ₹850 million (about $10 million) in space-related operations, a valuation of ₹8.5 billion, or a turnover of ₹2 billion during the previous three years are among the strict standards that applicants must fulfill. Additionally, they are necessary to set up spacecraft.
Technical Evaluations: IN-SPACe plans to finish technical evaluations by the end of January 2025. The successful consortium will then be chosen through a tender.
In addition to strengthening India’s satellite technology capabilities, this initiative seeks to establish the nation as a major force in the global space economy, encouraging innovation and lowering reliance on outside data sources for vital industries like infrastructure management and defense.
