Syllabus: GS2/Governance; GS3/Science and Tech/Internal Security
In News
- Recently, Security agencies have raised alarms over the illegal use of satellite communication devices in Indian waters, citing potential national security threats.
About
- In an era defined by digital connectivity, terrestrial networks (fiber optics, mobile towers) often face limitations due to difficult geographical terrains and vulnerability to natural disasters.
- Satellite-Based Communication (SATCOM) has emerged as the critical infrastructure bridging these gaps.
- For a vast and diverse nation like India, SATCOM is not just a technological convenience but a strategic necessity, underpinning disaster management, remote connectivity, tele-education, and national security.
What is Satellite-Based Communication?
- Satellite communication involves the use of artificial satellites in orbit around the Earth to relay radio signals between different points on the ground.
- The satellite acts as a “mirror in the sky,” receiving signals from one earth station, amplifying them, and re-transmitting them to another earth station or user terminals.
How it Works: The Mechanism
- Uplink: A ground station (earth station) transmits a signal (carrying voice, data, or video) up to the satellite.
- Transponding: The satellite receives the signal. Its onboard equipment, called a transponder, shifts the signal’s frequency (to avoid interference between incoming and outgoing signals) and amplifies it.
- Downlink: The satellite re-transmits the amplified signal back down to Earth, over a specific geographical area known as its “footprint.”
- Reception: Receiving dishes on the ground (like DTH antennas or VSAT terminals) capture the signal.
Satellite-Based Communication in India Current Status
- India has over 1 billion internet subscribers, yet rural penetration remains limited (about 46 per 100 people).
- Satellite internet is being positioned as a solution to bridge this digital divide.
- The government has allowed 100% FDI in satellite internet services, enabling private participation alongside ISRO.
- India is moving towards LEO (Low Earth Orbit) and MEO (Medium Earth Orbit) satellite systems, which provide faster and more reliable broadband compared to traditional GEO satellites.
- Global players like SpaceX (Starlink) and Eutelsat OneWeb (backed by India’s Bharti Enterprises) are vying to enter the Indian broadband market using LEO constellations.
Advantages of SATCOM for India
- Digital Inclusion: Satellite communication can connect remote villages, border areas, and disaster-prone regions where fiber networks are unfeasible.
- National Security: Secure satellite communication is vital for defense, maritime safety, and disaster response.
- Economic Growth: Expanding connectivity supports e-governance, online education, telemedicine, and digital commerce.
- Strategic Autonomy: Indigenous satellite systems reduce dependence on foreign operators and enhance India’s global standing in space technology.
Issues and Challenges
- Security Concerns: Illegal use of satellite phones in Indian waters has raised alarms, as they can bypass monitoring systems and pose risks to national security.
- High Costs: Satellite internet remains expensive compared to terrestrial broadband, limiting affordability for rural populations.
- Regulatory Barriers: Licensing, spectrum allocation, and coordination with international operators require streamlined policies.
- Technical Limitations: Weather disruptions, latency issues (though reduced in LEO/MEO systems), and infrastructure for ground stations remain challenges.
- Geopolitical Dependencies: Reliance on foreign-owned LEO constellations for critical national infrastructure could be risky during diplomatic tensions or conflicts, as services could be denied.
Government Steps
- Security Measures: The Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) has proposed stricter penalties to curb the unauthorised use of satellite phones and messaging devices, including Zoleo devices linked to Iridium systems.
- While Iridium-based equipment is permitted solely for distress and safety communications under the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS), Thuraya devices remain banned.
- Personal devices must be declared and sealed by authorities.
- Space Sector Reforms: In 2020, the Government introduced Space Sector Reforms to open the doors for private sector participation in space activities. Building on this momentum, the Indian Space Policy, 2023 established a level playing field for Non-Government Entities (NGEs) in the space sector by enabling their participation across the entire value chain of space activities in an end-to-end manner.
- ISRO partnering with private firms for satellite launches and communication payloads.
- Indian National Space Promotion & Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe): It plays a pivotal role in enabling satellite internet in India. It is responsible for promoting, authorizing and supervising various space activities of the non-governmental entities (NGEs).
- This nodal agency acts as an interface between ISRO and NGEs, facilitating the growth of space-based activities including the use of India’s satellite resources for broadband connectivity.
Source :TH
