He underscored SATCOM as a viable alternative to extend connectivity across the country
India must scale up its Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite network to cement its position as a global leader in satellite communications (SATCOM) and bridge the country's digital divide, Lt Gen Anil Kumar Bhatt (Retd.), Director General of the Indian Space Association (ISpA), said on March 19.
Speaking at the 32nd Convergence India Expo, Bhatt highlighted the economic and logistical challenges of deploying terrestrial network infrastructure in remote regions, citing costs of around ₹10 lakh per kilometre. He underscored SATCOM as a viable alternative to extend connectivity across the country.
“By certain estimates, laying terrestrial network infrastructure can cost around ₹10 lakhs per kilometre. In sparsely populated or remote areas, this becomes economically unviable. This is where satellite communication (SATCOM) offers a compelling alternative”, said Lt Gen Bhatt.
He called SATCOM a key to resolve the ‘Digital Divide’ problem and said, “Despite India's impressive digital growth, with over 800 million internet users, there are still around 400 million people without reliable connectivity. This digital divide is not just a policy challenge—it's one of the world's largest untapped markets.”
“Our aim today is not just to inform but to inspire—whether you're a policymaker, investor, entrepreneur, or technologist, SATCOM is more than just technology; it's about fundamentally reshaping India's digital narrative”, he added.
According to the recent KPMG data, A latest report by KPMG in India, has estimated that India’s SatCom sector, which currently stands at US$ 2.3 billion a year, will reach US$ 20 billion by 2028.
Report highlighted that at present, the country ranks fourth in terms of investments in the sector, globally. Nearly US$ 2 billion was invested in 110 firms, locally.
Despite being a global leader in space exploration, India is lagging behind in SATCOM with 22 operational satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). LEO satellite is important in SATCOM is because LEO (Low Earth Orbit) satellite constellations are important for satellite communication (satcom) because they offer lower latency, enabling faster data transmission and real-time applications, and are more cost-effective to build and launch than GEO (Geostationary Earth Orbit) satellites.
In contrast, countries like the USA, Japan, and China have deployed a significantly larger number of LEO satellites, strengthening their SATCOM capabilities.