SatCom Crucial To Enable Internet Connectivity In India By 2025-26: MoS Chandrasekhar

Union Minister of State for Electronics & IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Thursday said SatCom will be key for delivery of quality internet to 1.2 billion Indians by 2025-26.

Speaking at the India Space Congress 2022, Chandrasekhar said that the government is undertaking various collaborative measures to enhance “underlying technologies like microelectronic, semiconductor etc., to increase internet penetration.” 

The minister said, “Internet is accelerating the digital economy with satellite playing an important part.” 

India is at the cusp of space technology revolution and with recent reforms, the space industry has received an impetus for multi-fold growth. 

At the event, R Umamaheswaran, Director – Human Space Flight Centre, ISRO said, “The opening up of the space industry post the reforms have seen an increased participation by private players in the space industry. However, we need to keep in mind the growth of the electronics industry is key to the growth of the space industry.” 

He further added, “As we are witnessing increased traffic in LEO, the industry needs to look at design and tech solutions that will not hinder the view and work of the astronomers.”

Umamaheswaran informed the audience that ISRO is working on its first human flight to space by end 2024 or early 2025.