On October 8, 2025, Union Minister of Communication Jyotiraditya M. Scindia inaugurated the SATCOM Summit at the India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2025, with the theme "Space Networks for Universal Connectivity." The summit focused on extending connectivity to 38,260 remote villages across challenging terrains. Minister Scindia announced policy reforms and projects to secure India's leadership in satellite communication.
The government, through the Digital Bharat Nidhi and Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF), has undertaken a mission to connect 38,260 remote villages with a total investment of ₹40,000 crore, and about 75% of these villages have already been connected. The Indian SATCOM market is expected to triple from $4.3 billion in 2024 to $14.8 billion by 2033. A ₹900 crore National SATCOM Monitoring Facility will safeguard spectrum assets and strengthen India's satellite gateways.
GMPCS licences have been granted to OneWeb and Jio Satellite, and Starlink has received a Letter of Intent. The IMC 2025, jointly organised by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), is being held from 8th to 11th October under the theme “Innovate to Transform”.
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Key Entities Referenced
SATCOM: Satellite communications program aimed at extending connectivity to remote villages and securing India's leadership in satellite communication.
Union Minister of Communication Jyotiraditya M. Scindia: The key government representative announcing and promoting the SATCOM initiative and related policies.
Digital Bharat Nidhi: A fund used to finance the connection of remote villages via the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF).
India: The nation-state at the center of the program.
Ministry of Communications: Government ministry responsible for the SATCOM initiative.
Ministry of Communications
Union Minister of Communication Jyotiraditya M.
Scindia inaugurates SATCOM Summit at IMC 2025
Union Minister Scindia: “India to redefine satellite
communications for humanity”
SATCOM summit focuses on extending connectivity
to 38,260 remote villages across challenging terrains
Minister Scindia announces groundbreaking policy
reforms and projects to secure India’s leadership in
satellite communication
Calls for Unified, Milestone-Driven SATCOM
Programme to Accelerate Global Connectivity and
Innovation
Posted On: 08 OCT 2025 8:29PM by PIB Delhi
Union Minister for Communications, Jyotiraditya M. Scindia today inaugurated the Satcom Summit on
“Space Networks for Universal Connectivity” at the India Mobile Congress 2025. The event brought together
key stakeholders from the telecom and space sectors, including Dr. Jitendra Singh, Minister of State (Space),
Dr. V. Narayanan, Chairman, ISRO/DoS, and Dr. Pawan Goenka, Chairman, IN-SPACe.Addressing the gathering, Minister Scindia said that the Satcom Summit marks “the threshold of a revolution
— a revolution born in the sky, carried by satellites, but destined to transform lives on the ground.” He
highlighted that under the visionary leadership of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has become a
pace-setter in global digital transformation, connecting 99.9% of India’s population through 4.8 lakh 5G
towers in just 20 months — the fastest rollout in the world.
The Minister underlined that satellite communication (SATCOM) will now extend the promise of digital
inclusion to the remotest corners of the nation. “SATCOM is no longer a luxury; it is a right — a form of
justice in the digital era,” he said, adding that it will empower farmers, fishermen, doctors, and students across
geographies previously beyond the reach of terrestrial networks.
Minister Scindia informed that through the Digital Bharat Nidhi and Universal Service Obligation Fund
(USOF), the Government has undertaken the mission to connect 38,260 remote villages located in challenging
terrains with a total investment of ₹40,000 crore, of which nearly 29,000 villages — about 75% — have
already been connected.
Outlining policy reforms that have catalysed the sector, the Minister said that India has introduced
administrative allocation of satellite spectrum in line with international best practices, ensuring regulatory
harmony and equitable spectrum sharing. He noted that GMPCS licences have already been granted to
OneWeb and Jio Satellite, while Starlink has received a Letter of Intent, paving the way for a vibrant
SATCOM ecosystem.
With bold policy reforms and a commitment to innovation, India is poised to lead the world in satellite
communications, ensuring universal connectivity and empowering every Indian, regardless of their
geographic location, the Minister underlined.
He projected that the Indian SATCOM market, valued at $4.3 billion in 2024, is expected to triple to $14.8
billion by 2033, underscoring both the economic and strategic potential of the sector. He also announced a
₹900 crore National SATCOM Monitoring Facility, which will safeguard spectrum assets and strengthen
India’s satellite gateways.
Recalling India’s remarkable journey from Aryabhata (1975) to Chandrayaan-3, Aditya-L1, NISAR and
upcoming Gaganyaan and next-generation reusable launch vehicles, Jyotiraditya Scindia said that India has
transformed from being a follower to a global leader in space innovation. “India must not just be a beneficiary
of satellite services — it must become a hub, an exporter, and a trusted global partner,” he asserted.
Concluding his address, the Minister called for a coordinated, milestone-driven SATCOM programme uniting
government, industry, startups, academia, and international partners. “In the great symphony of progress,
India will not be a silent listener. India will be the conductor, leading the orchestra of global innovation —
composing the melody of opportunity,” Minister Scindia said.
IMC 2025
Organised jointly by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the Cellular Operators Association of
India (COAI), India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2025 is being held from 8th to 11th October under the theme
“Innovate to Transform”, highlighting India’s commitment to leveraging innovation for digital transformation
and societal progress. It is one of the largest and most impactful platforms for the telecom and technology
sectors in India. The event brings together industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators to explore cutting-
edge technologies and trends shaping the future of connectivity, digital transformation, and sustainability.The event reflects India’s strategic priorities in next-generation connectivity, digital sovereignty, cyber fraud
prevention, and global technology leadership.
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Samrat/ Allen/ Murali
(Release ID: 2176537)