New Delhi: The India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2025 opened with the first-ever Satcom Summit, focusing on the theme “Space Networks for Universal Connectivity.” Held at the Yashobhoomi Convention Centre in New Delhi, the summit marked a major step toward harnessing satellite communication (Satcom) to bridge India’s digital divide and advance inclusive national growth.
The event was inaugurated by Union Minister of Communications and Development of North Eastern Region Jyotiraditya Scindia, Minister of State for Science and Technology Dr Jitendra Singh, Dr V. Narayanan, Chairman, ISRO and Secretary, Department of Space (DoS) and Dr Pawan Goenka, Chairman, IN-SPACe.
Highlighting the transformative role of satellite networks, Scindia described Satcom as the “backbone of resilient infrastructure,” enabling access to healthcare, education, and essential services in remote areas. He emphasised that India’s collaborative missions, including the NISAR project, have positioned the nation as a global “pace setter” in space innovation.
Dr Jitendra Singh underlined India’s growing ecosystem of public-private partnerships and international collaborations, noting the increasing relevance of spacetech in sectors such as defence and atomic energy. ISRO chief Dr Narayanan added that India’s satellite capabilities have expanded dramatically – with over 100 satellites launched in a single mission – and are crucial to achieving the nation’s vision of becoming a developed country by 2047.
Industry voices at the summit echoed the need for supportive regulation and technological integration. Lt Gen (Retd) A.K. Bhatt, Director General of ISpA, called for a “balanced regulatory framework” to accelerate spectrum allocation and foster innovation. Parnil Urdhwareshe of Starlink emphasised India’s policy momentum for NGSO systems, while Gaurav Sharma of Viasat India highlighted the rapid adoption of multi-orbit connectivity models across defence, aviation and maritime sectors.
The Satcom Summit also featured discussions on next-generation satellite technologies, non-terrestrial networks, and integration with 5G and 6G systems to build sustainable communication infrastructures.
The 9th edition of India Mobile Congress 2025, co-organised by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), is Asia’s largest digital technology forum.
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