November 6th， according to a report from Kuaitech， India has initiated a ban on its domestic broadcasting companies from utilizing Chinese satellite services. This marks a significant shift from India’s previous stance， where technological limitations necessitated the use of Chinese satellite services by its national broadcasters.
Recent reports from Indian media indicate that the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) has rejected applications from several Chinese or China-affiliated companies seeking to continue providing satellite services to Indian users. This move is a direct consequence of reforms within India’s space sector regulatory framework， which now mandates that all foreign satellites must obtain authorization from IN-SPACe to offer services within the country.
While established European and American companies such as Intelsat， Starlink， and OneWeb have successfully secured permits to continue their communication and broadcasting operations in India， the majority of applications submitted by Chinese companies have been turned down. A few Chinese satellites have received limited authorization， but their service is only permitted until March of the following year.
Indian media outlets attribute this policy change to India’s growing emphasis on self-reliance in its space program. Previously， due to its nascent capabilities， India had to permit all international satellites， including those from China， to serve its users. However， with space emerging as a critical domain for national defense and strategic importance， India is now actively fostering the development of its indigenous satellite technology and supporting infrastructure.
The Indian space industry is experiencing robust growth， with projections estimating its economic value to reach $44 billion by 2033. This would significantly increase India’s global market share in the space sector from the current 2% to 8%. Within this expanding space economy， communication and broadcasting services are anticipated to be a primary driver of sustained growth.
