1. New Extension of Commercial Space Apps: Broadband, ICT and Geomatics: India Dr. Sanat Kaul 1

2.  Space applications have thrown tremendous opportunities for commercialization as tool for planning and implementation for government.  With ICT convergence of telephony, computers and extending to smart gadgets, economic development can be enhanced in a more scientific and faster manner-something which was never envisaged a few decades back. This is the power of space based apps.  Space based applications can be divided into remote sensing based apps, navigational apps, communication apps and metrological apps. 2

3.  India has seen tremendous growth in space research and activities since 1960.  Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) was established in 1969 for development of space programme as a tool for economic and social development.  Use of satellite apps as a development tool has made a major dent in the early years. India developed its launch capability and has sent many satellites from its own launch pads and also launched commercially for other countries.  It 2008-09, India sent an unmanned mission to Moon called Chandrayan I and in 2014, sent a Mars Orbital Mission (MOM) successfully. 3

4.  In order to leverage the gains made by ISRO, a commercial arm called Antrix Corporation was set up in 1992.  Antrix Corporation was able to access ISRO staff of 16000 scientists and engineers.  Antrix Corporation has launched through ISRO many successful satellites for other countries and has business agreements with many governments and corporations. 4

5.  India’s commercial space industry is worth just over $1 billion when global space industry is worth $314 billion in 2013. India needs to encourage private sector in space industry.  Antrix Corporation has a large vendor base but there is no major independent private sector space industry.  Growth areas like disaster and flood management, medicine, education, agriculture, fisheries, vehicle tracking, women safety, land issues, minerals, urban development are the need for public and private development. 5

6.  Satcom policy opened private sector initiatives in DTH and Vsat using leasing capacity from Indian National Satellites (INSAT).  Satcom policy gave preference to Indian Satellite Systems but did not prohibit use of Foreign Satellites Systems.  However, lease of foreign satellite capacity had to be done through Department of Space leading to bureaucratic delays. 6

7.  Remote Sensing Data Policy has gone through two version of 2001 & 2011. Initially, government was reluctant to allow access to images lower than 5.8m. However realizing the defect, bar was lowered for non- discreminatory access to 1m. 7

8.  Antrix Corporation is the commercial arm of ISRO.  There is a need to allow private sector participation. ISRO is also going in for risk sharing model with micro, small, medium and large private industries. It is also setting up a space industrial park near its spaceport at Sriharikota and invites private sector participation to enhance its work. 8

9.  After ICAO decision of 1994 to shift in future to satellite based navigation worldwide, India announced its initiative of GAGAN satellite as the augmentation system over Asia in a collaborative venture between ISRO and Airports Authority of India (AAI). Later India announced an Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System or IRNSS as a seven satellite based regional navigation system on top of India. This throws tremendous opportunities for applications. Already four satellites are in orbit.  New activities like synchronized traffic lights, GIS maps for town planning, flood control and disaster relief etc. have already started.  ISRO with state governments has opened up number of centres to develop space based apps and provide training. 9

10.  Small start-ups have started mushrooming in India. Small company called Dhruva Space has signed up with a German company to manufacture satellites.  Indian team has won a $1 million GoogleX Prize in a competition to produce a rover for the moon by December, 2016.  Geo-Spatial technologies have taken centre space in urban design. E-commerce has found local companies like Flipkart with a valuation of $11 billion.  Indian Angels Associations have come up in major cities and are helping start-ups with funds and mentoring. Better known among them are Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai Angels and also Indian Angels Network. Some of them also provide incubator facilities. However, Indian Angels are still very small in numbers compared to US  Foreign hedge funds, pension funds are showing interest in India start-ups. 10

11.  India has currently 3100 start-ups. By 2020, NASSCOM predicts 11500 start-ups employing 250,000 professionals.  The government has announced Digital India Policy through which it will bring in e- governance and will connect 250,000 village by March 2016 with 750,00 kms optical fibre wiring.  According to NASSCOM “Start-Up Report 2014”, India is one of the fastest growing and third largest eco-system globally.  It is driven by young, diverse inclusive entrepreneurs looking for domain solutions in healthcare, agriculture, education etc.  However, need for government policy in terms of ease of doing business is the need of the day. 11

12.  This will have a multiplier effect on developmental activities. Many schemes like payment of subsidies, payment through internet, various charges and government dues etc will make government delivery more efficient.  Already Common Service Centres (CSC) have come up in some villages of India having internet offering uninterrupted access of delivery of government and financial services.  Boosting financial inclusion and ensuring that critical services including banking, pension and insurance are not hampered by strike.  CSC comprising of computer, printer and webcam connected with high speed internet offer more than 114 government services to citizens at their door steps at affordable cost.  There are presently 140,000 CSCs in India and the plan is to raise it 264,000 units in the next few years. 12

13.  CSC system is also a vehicle of women empowerment especially in tribal areas.  CSC will also offer skilling services like auto- mechanics with help of private companies.  Banking activities are no more confined to banks. CSC acts as banking correspondents where customer can update their passbooks etc. 13

14.  India has no space policy as yet. There is dire need to set up a space policy which will provide a policy for private sector participation and a level playing field. It also needs a policy for future direction and a legislative backup.  India also needs law to provide preventive misuse of GNSS jamming and other misuses of satellite based applications.  With the Atal Innovation Mission, it is hoped that commercial space applications will get a boost. 14

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