Mumbai, July 25 -- Collaboration across government, industry and academia will be key to advancing India's digital transformation and space economy through satellite communications.
Robust collaboration between government and industry is propelling India's satellite communications sector into a new phase of growth, senior executives at Viasat said at a high-level roundtable in New Delhi on Friday.
"Smart people will want to work in this sector, and people from around the world will want to come and work here. That has been the result of a strong public-private partnership, a supportive regulatory environment and sustained investment into the sector by ISRO and others," said Michael Howells, Global Head, Strategic Relationships & Market Development at the US-based satellite firm. "It is an exciting story, and in many ways, India will be the envy of other countries that have achieved such success."
Howells expressed confidence that India's education system and private sector will address manpower challenges, adding that global players like Viasat are keen to expand in India. "I have a great sense of optimism and excitement about what we can achieve together. It is a golden age for the sector, and we should seize this opportunity," he said.
On regulation, Howells noted that emerging satellite technologies require thoughtful oversight. "The trade-off between risk and opportunity is one that every regulator faces, and the best outcomes come when governments and industry work together. Regulatory sandbox approaches offer one way to explore new technologies while protecting consumers, national security and the wider economy."
Gautam Sharma, Managing Director, Viasat India, said sustaining momentum is critical. "The successful launch of [Skyroot's] Vikram-1 is a time of celebration for the industry. A lot has been achieved in the last five years, but I believe the next five years will decide the destiny of the space sector in India."
The roundtable surmised that India's satellite communications industry is entering a pivotal phase. Continued collaboration across government, industry and academia will be key to accelerating innovation, expanding connectivity and unlocking the sector's role in India's digital transformation and space economy ambitions.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Infrastructure Today.