Space PSU NSIL to launch satellite for TataSky | India News – Times of India
BENGALURU: India’s first and solely Space Public Sector Unit (SPSU), New Space India Limited (NSIL), has lastly taken wings and will probably be launching a communication satellite devoted to increase direct-to-home (DTH) providers within the second half of this 12 months utilizing a overseas launch service.
To do that, NSIL, which was established beneath the Department of Space (DoS) as half of India’s reforms to liberalise the house sector, has acquired Rs 700 crore fairness from the federal government.
Okay Sivan, secretary, DoS, informed TOI: “This money will eventually be paid back. As part of the reforms, the role of NSIL now is to also own and sell assets and the first satellite it will acquire is GSAT-24 which will be launched to cater to TataSky’s DTH business. So far, Isro owned all the satellites and its services were sold through Isro’s own entity (Antrix). This (NSIL) will usher in a new era in India’s commercial space activity.”
GSAT-24 will probably be a 4.1 tonne communication satellite that may put into house 24 Ku-band transponders to be used for DTH providers. “The satellite’s cost is Rs 400 crore and NSIL will be launching it through Arianespace. The launch is expected to happen sometime in September,” Sivan mentioned.
The PSU can also be negotiating to purchase GSAT-20, a excessive-throughput satellite, which may also be launched commercially. “Aside from GSAT-20, DishTV has held preliminary talks with NSIL for another satellite,” Sivan added.
“When NSIL was formed, the mandate was different. Now, with Atmanirbhar Bharat and the space reforms, it has completely changed. We are now expected to carry out a lot of capital intensive projects to enable a demand-driven ecosystem. There are a lot of developments, we are in the process of finalising the deal for two satellites with DoS,” G Narayanan, CMD, NSIL, mentioned.
Buying From Startups
Further, Sivan mentioned that whereas the primary few satellites are being acquired from Isro, NSIL, sooner or later may also be shopping for from the personal sector, together with startups.
Narayanan mentioned: “We are not restricting our sources to fulfil our requirements to any government organisation. We will be open and whoever has the strength and capability, we will be sourcing it from them on a commercial basis.”
While NSIL’s first business undertaking would be the PSLV launch scheduled for later this month, the PSU’s position there was restricted to connecting the overseas buyer — Amazonia-1 from Brazil — with Isro.
“In the PSLV launch, Isro is providing the service and the Brazilians came through an NSIL contract. But GSAT-24 and 20 that we are talking about will be completely NSIL’s. Isro will only be a vendor, and the satellite will be owned by NSIL, this is a new era,” Sivan mentioned.
