To prevent its domestic broadcasters and teleport operators from using Chinese-linked satellites, India has made a major security-driven move that orders them to migrate to Indian or other approved foreign spacecraft by March 2026. The Indian policy shift, which will come under the purview of Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe), comes in the backdrop of deepening global rivalries and is geared to provide greater national security foster a digital space communications environment.
For more than three decades, the Chinese-backed operators such as AsiaSat have been a part of India’s broadcasting architecture. Yet India has now used authorisation to limit their operations, with only 2 AsiaSat satellites (AS5 and AS7) having active licences until March of next year, rejections for others (AS6, 8 and 9). Large broadcasters such as Zee Entertainment Enterprises and JioStar Networks have already started shifting services to domestic satellites GSAT-30 and GSAT-17, and also to approved international satellite Intelsat-20, to circumvent any break in transmission.
This is one change that falls under the umbrella of a larger, regulation overhaul which will require every foreign satellite to have an explicit IN-SPACe approval before operating over India. The decision is in sync with India jettisoning its dependence on foreign satellite systems on the one hand and reducing reliance on Chinese infrastructure for strategic as well as military means using GSAT series, while simultaneously incentivising indigenous capacity.
Officials note that space and satellite communications are now seen as part of the nation’s security infrastructure not just commercial utilities. This bold move furthers India’s aims on the hardening of its communication networks against vulnerabilities in the face of constant geopolitical strains and towards bounded growth of its space economy, expected to reach great heights over the next decade.
The broadcasters will have to stop all satellite-linked Chinese broadcasts by March 2026 in order that there are no disruptions. Besides security, the policy indicates a strategic focus on indigenisation and bolstering India’s position in the global satellite market. – Overseas satellite firms like Intelsat, Inmarsat, Starlink and OneWeb are designated to operate in place of dependance on Chinese-linked satellites.
In short, India’s decision to block satellites linked to China is a big change in policy that will make space communications safer and give India more control over them. This will affect broadcasters, teleport operators, and the whole satellite ecosystem in the country.