Union Minister for Communications, Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, inaugurated the Satcom Summit on “Space Networks for Universal Connectivity” at the India Mobile Congress 2025, in the presence of Dr Jitendra Singh, Minister of State (Space), Dr V. Narayanan, Chairman, ISRO/DoS, and Dr Pawan Goenka, Chairman, IN-SPACe.

Addressing the gathering, Mr Scindia described the Satcom Summit as “the threshold of a revolution — a revolution born in the sky, carried by satellites, but destined to transform lives on the ground.” He noted that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has emerged as a global digital pace-setter, connecting 99.9 per cent of its population through 480,000 5G towers in just 20 months — the fastest rollout in the world.

The Minister underlined that satellite communication (SATCOM) will now extend digital inclusion to India’s most remote regions. “SATCOM is no longer a luxury; it is a right — a form of justice in the digital era,” he said, adding that it will empower farmers, fishermen, doctors, and students living in areas previously beyond the reach of terrestrial networks.

Mr Scindia highlighted that through the Digital Bharat Nidhi and the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF), the Government has launched a mission to connect 38,260 remote villages in challenging terrains with an investment of Rs 400 billion. Of these, nearly 29,000 villages — around 75 per cent — have already been connected.

Outlining the policy reforms that have transformed India’s satellite sector, the Minister said the country has introduced administrative allocation of satellite spectrum in line with international best practices, ensuring fairness and regulatory stability. He added that GMPCS licences have already been issued to OneWeb and Jio Satellite, while Starlink has received a Letter of Intent, paving the way for a competitive and dynamic SATCOM ecosystem.

Mr Scindia projected that the Indian SATCOM market, valued at USD 4.3 billion in 2024, is expected to triple to USD 14.8 billion by 2033, reflecting its growing economic and strategic importance. He also announced the establishment of a Rs 9 billion National SATCOM Monitoring Facility, which will safeguard India’s spectrum assets and enhance the resilience of its satellite gateways.

Reflecting on India’s journey in space exploration — from Aryabhata (1975) to Chandrayaan-3, Aditya-L1, NISAR, and the upcoming Gaganyaan mission — Mr Scindia emphasised that India has evolved from a follower to a global leader in space innovation. “India must not only benefit from satellite services but also become a hub, an exporter, and a trusted global partner,” he asserted.

Concluding his address, the Minister called for a coordinated, milestone-driven SATCOM programme, uniting government, industry, startups, academia, and international collaborators. “In the great symphony of progress, India will not be a silent listener. India will be the conductor, leading the orchestra of global innovation — composing the melody of opportunity,” Mr Scindia said.