I&B secretary and health secretary at India Space Congress 2022

Speaking at the India Space Congress 2022, organised by SIA-India Apurva Chandra, Secretary – I&B, said, “The Ministry is going to deregulate uplinking for satellites in the new Uplinking-Downlinking Guidelines slated to be released soon. This will make India an uplinking hub for neighbouring countries.” He further said that broadcasting channels in India use 592 foreign satellites and 366 Indian satellites for uplinking and downlinking and “$102 million has been paid as remittance to foreign satellite companies. If we are to have more Indian satellites, the foreign remittance will be far less and will provide a great opportunity to Indian satellite companies.” Stressing on SatCom being the key player in broadband, the I&B Secretary said, “LEO satellites are used for broadcasting and satellite communications will be critical to expand broadcasting either through broadband or data. Cost effectiveness will be key to the success of satellite communication.”

Satellite communications play a pivotal role in enabling and enhancing healthcare in the country and especially in remote areas. Speaking at the India Space Congress 2022, Rajesh Bhushan, Secretary – Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said, “With increasing age, providing health-care consultation at home for senior citizens is key, especially in remote areas. And such consultation is possible only via satellite connectivity. While the Health Ministry is working towards creating a sustainable solution for connecting specialised doctors to provide consultation to patients in remote areas via satellite, private healthcare companies should also do the same.” He further added, “Space based monitoring of emerging diseases and real time surveillance of diseases will help in finding a faster solution and contain spread. Space will play an important role in the holistic development of the healthcare system in India.”

The India Space Congress 2022 is supported by ISRO, In-SPACe, NCIL, Dept of telecommunications, Dept of Space and NITI Aayog.
MB Bureau