The Author is Former Director General of Information Systems and A Special Forces Veteran, Indian Army

Recent news reports indicate that China has broken the barriers in satellite communication, redefining the future of space technology. China’s Jilin-1 02A02 satellite, developed by Chang Guang Satellite Technology Co., has achieved an unprecedented data transmission speed of 100 Gbps. This is a game-changer because 100 Gbps speed has been unmatched in data transfer capabilities till now. Moreover; the mobile truck-based ground station is advanced, flexible, and portable. The Chinese feat has surpassed global competitors; outperforming even Starlink’s current technology. This milestone marks a major step forward in the global race for advanced satellite communication, setting new benchmarks for speed and efficiency.

China’s Jilin-1 02A02 satellite, developed by Chang Guang Satellite Technology has achieved an unprecedented data transmission speed of 100 Gbps

According to news reports of December 12, 2024, the US Space Force is planning to use a ‘plug and play’ satellite interface developed by The Aerospace Corporation for an upcoming mission under its Tactically Responsive Space (TacRS) programme. The programme seeks to validate technologies and tactics to shorten the timeline for launching payloads, such as surveillance sensors, into orbit. The Programme Executive Officer at the Space Systems Command, said that the military is seeking more standardised satellite designs and plans to test a modular interface system named ‘Handle’, developed by The Aerospace Corporation, in a future TacRS mission.

Handle is a standardised electrical interface designed to integrate satellite payloads seamlessly into a standardised modular architecture, which simplifies the integration of payloads onto satellite platforms. The technology was previously demonstrated during Aerospace’s Slingshot 1 mission in July 2022. The Safari Office of the US Space Force plans to incorporate it into the upcoming ‘Victus Salo’ mission. The Space Force finds timelines of the traditional satellite development too slow to meet modern threats; hence, the TacRS programme to build an acquisition culture that can move faster than adversaries. Under a responsive space mission, the US military would launch a surveillance satellite to quickly inspect a suspected anti-satellite weapon or other objects believed to pose a potential threat to US spacecraft.

US Space Force is planning to use a ‘plug and play’ satellite interface developed by The Aerospace Corporation for an upcoming mission under its Tactically Responsive Space (TacRS) programme

Indian policy makers and ISRO can learn from the above and evaluate the need for similar plans. The Victus Salo mission of the US Space Force is slated for the later half of 2026; one of several missions under the TacRS initiative that seeks to demonstrate the Space Force’s capacity for rapid-response launches and enhanced space domain awareness. Victus Salo will be deployed into low Earth Orbit (LEO) using SpaceX’s rideshare programme and will carry a government-provided payload developed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Lincoln Laboratory. The Space Safari has awarded $34.5 million to supply launch services and orbital manoeuvre vehicles for both Victus Salo and another mission called Victus Surgo that will launch a commercially developed payload. The Victor Salo mission is viewed as an initial step (not end state) for integrating modular architectures into responsive space missions.

In India, the satellite spectrum is in the news, with officials saying that satellite services are expected to get started by the end of 2025. Jio, one of India’s leading telecom operators, has been pushing for early auction of the satellite spectrum. Also, telecom service providers have been advocating for a level playing field between satcom and telecom operators; with concerns that global satcom operators may hijack the satellite spectrum and poach their suscribers by providing services in urban areas.

Handle is a standardised electrical interface designed to integrate satellite payloads seamlessly into a standardised modular architecture, which simplifies the integration of payloads onto satellite platforms

Notably, Elon Musk’s Starlink has applied for a license to launch satellite broadband services in India. The company has formally accepted the security and data storage requirements mandated by the Indian government; store all user data within the country and ensure it can facilitate data interception by intelligence agencies when required. But Starlink has requested relaxation on some conditions, which it aims to comply with over a period once its application is approved. The media has not elaborated which conditions Starlink wants relaxed and whether delay in auction of the satellite spectrum will help Starlink meet those requirements. Presently, Starlink’s application is under evaluation by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and security agencies.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is in the process of finalising the methodology of allocating and pricing spectrum for satellite services. Simultaneously, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is also working to finalise the network authorization for satellite-based networks as per the Telecom Act. TRAI has proposed merging the Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite (GMPCS) and Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) licences into a single authorization called “Satellite-based Telecommunication Service Authorization”.

Notably, Elon Musk’s Starlink has applied for a license to launch satellite broadband services in India

It is quite possible that given the equation between US President Donald Trump and Elon Musk, there could be pressure on India to give Starlink the license for broadband services in India, especially with countries like Japan agreeing to Starlink satellite cover. But such a move would be fraught with security risks. Already, establishment of an Indo-US semiconductor fab endangers our security, as pointed out in these columns earlier. We have also been casual in dealing with China, because of which our power and telecommunication sectors are prey to Chinese spying and sabotage. Ironically, we woke up to the backdoors and malware in Chinese components only when Indian Army’s drones procured indigenously did not take off or were commandeered into Pakistan.