After NISAR mission, India to launch 6500-kg US communication sat: Isro chief
chairman V Narayanan disclosed on Sunday.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
The Block 2 BlueBird satellite features large communication arrays, up to 2,400 sq ft, and has been designed to achieve data transmission speeds of up to 12 Mbps, enabling voice, data and video communication capabilities for end users. The satellite will provide direct-to-smartphone broadband connectivity, eliminating the need for specialised terminals.
The next-generation American satellite is expected to reach India in Sept and will be launched aboard LVM-3-M5, Isro's heaviest rocket, from the Sriharikota spaceport.
BlueBird satellite uses AST & Science's patented technologies for connecting to cellphones in a space environment for their SpaceMobile constellation.
The satellite has a communications array measuring 64.38 sq m to establish direct connectivity with cellphones via 3GPP-standard frequencies, in partnership with leading cellular service providers around the world. After NISAR, the Block-2 BlueBird launch will further boost Indo-US space collaboration.
Narayanan, who was presented with an honorary Doctor of Science degree by Maharashtra governor C.P. Radhakrishnan during the convocation ceremony at SRM Institute of Science and Technology at Kattankulathur near Chennai, talked about the rapid strides India's made in the field of space technology.
He said Isro was set up in 1963, with a tiny rocket being donated by the US that year to mark the beginning of the Indian space programme. In 1975, with satellite data given by the US, Isro demonstrated 'mass communication' through 2,400 TV sets at 2,400 villages across six Indian states. 'From that (humble beginnings), the 30th of July was a historic day for the Indian space programme. We have launched the NISAR satellite, the costliest one ever built in the world.
Today, we are working shoulder to shoulder with advanced countries,' Narayanan said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
3 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Balancing code and commerce in U.K. trade compact
India's digital trade compact with the United Kingdom breaks new ground. Chapter 12 of the India-U.K. Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) sets out a bargain that trades some oversight tools for access, credibility and scale. The trade-off has sparked a policy debate. Supporters call it a strategic step into the global digital economy. Critics call it a retreat from digital sovereignty. Such agreements rarely produce winner-take-all outcomes. They usually end in negotiated compromises. On balance, the gains look real, but they signal a need for guard rails that keep pace with evolving risks. The digital wins The digital wins are clear. The agreement recognises electronic signatures and contracts and commits both sides to work towards mutual recognition. That trims paperwork for software-as-a-service firms and also lowers barriers for small and medium enterprises. Paperless trade and electronic invoicing make cross-border documentation and payments easier. And policy continuity on zero customs duties for electronic transmissions protects a software export pipeline that the Commerce Ministry estimates at $30 billion a year. Cooperation on data innovation can help too. The text encourages pilot projects that use regulatory sandboxes where required. That gives payments and other data-driven firms a way to test and scale tools under supervision, which builds credibility abroad. Beyond the digital chapter, the broader India-U.K. deal is expected to improve day-to-day commerce. Industry expects that as the agreement is implemented, close to 99% of Indian merchandise exports could enter the U.K. duty-free, with textile tariffs falling sharply, including from 12% to zero on key lines, increasing growth prospects in textile export hubs such as Tiruppur (Tamil Nadu) and Ludhiana (Punjab). Analysts also point to more doors opening in British public procurement for Indian IT suppliers. Employers say social-security waivers for short assignments could cut payroll costs by roughly one-fifth. These moves promise a wider and more predictable trade corridor. The digital costs Nevertheless, the possible digital costs deserve attention. Critics have contended that India has stepped back from source-code checks as a default regulatory tool, as there is a ban on code-inspection under the agreement. Regulators can demand access on a case-by-case basis, tied to an investigation or a court process. Government procurement is excluded from the scope of digital trade. Hence any access to source code in products procured by government is not restricted. While the agreement aims to enhance business trust, it does not sacrifice essential interests. A general security exception exists. It preserves national supervision of power grids, or payment systems and other critical infrastructure, even if privately owned. The restriction is only of good governance, ensuring that action is not taken in a manner which would constitute a disguised restriction on trade. Should additional reassurance be required, a practical step could be to accredit trusted labs for reviewing sensitive code, under tight safeguards. On government data, the posture is voluntary. There is no legally binding commitment. India decides what to publish and in what form. When it does open a dataset, it should be machine-readable and easy to reuse. This is not a blank cheque for anyone to demand access. India could also seek clear audit trails for cross-border data intermediaries so that accountability follows the data. There is no 'automatic MFN (most favoured nation)' for cross-border data flows. Instead, the agreement creates a forward review mechanism. If one side later signs a trade pact with tougher data rules, the two sides consult on whether to extend equivalent terms. There is a promise to talk; not an autopilot extension. A formal review is stipulated within five years. As multiple versions of ChatGPT in under three years show that AI is developing rapidly, future pacts should have a review every three years to align rules with risks. Aligning with modern trade norms marks a departure from past Indian practice, but this makes sense for a country that is seeking a larger role in the global digital economy. It reflects India's shift from trade scepticism to strategic engagement. Domestic foundations usually anchor external commitments. The Digital Personal Data Protection Act of 2023 still needs notification of final rules. For future trade texts to build on that framework, the rules need to institutionalise open consultations before deals are closed so that inputs are sought and concerns surface early and can be addressed in time. Steps to take Digital treaties decide what governments can regulate, what companies can expect, and what citizens can protect. Chapter 12 of the India-U.K. agreement is a milestone in terms of a first step. In future, India should integrate market-openness with regulatory oversight. It could accredit trusted labs to review sensitive code under strict safeguards and also mandate audit trails for cross-border data flows. It could also institutionalise broad-based pre-negotiation consultations and schedule regular three-year reviews of digital treaties. Together, these steps show that sovereignty and global engagement need not pull in opposite directions but, instead, can power the modern Indian economy. Syed Akbaruddin is a former Indian Permanent Representative to the United Nations and, currently, Dean, Kautilya School of Public Policy, Hyderabad. Shivangi Pandey is Executive Assistant to the Dean, Kautilya School of Public Policy, Hyderabad
Time of India
19 minutes ago
- Time of India
Modi calls for self-reliance in space sector
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said India is working towards self-reliance in the space sector and preparing for the launch of Gaganyaan, an indigenously developed spacecraft for its human space flight mission."India is actively working on the Gaganyaan mission and is also planning its own space station," Modi said in his Independence Day speech from the Red Fort. "We must come together to change the destiny of our country. I appeal to the youth: step forward and contribute to this mission of national transformation."Gaganyaan will take a crew of three astronauts into a three-day orbit of the earth at an altitude of 400 km in also congratulated astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla on his mission to the International Space Station. He highlighted the impact of space sector reforms, with about 300 startups working in the space leaders welcomed the remarks, saying the momentum could help achieve the target of a $44-billion space economy by 2033. Former ISRO chairman S Somanath, who spearheaded the 2023 space reforms through the Indian Space Policy , told ET that Modi's comments underline how the sector is "not just creating jobs and economic value, but also promoting the scientific temper".
India.com
an hour ago
- India.com
Another major layoffs in tech giant, to sack Indian employees from…, not Ratan Tata's TCS nor Narayana Murthy's Infosys or Azim Premji's Wipro, it is…
Narayana Murthy, Late Ratan Tata, Azim Premji (Left to right) American tech major Oracle has carried out big layoffs across multiple countries and India is the worst affected. Around 10% of the company's Indian employees have reportedly lost their jobs. Oracle called the move as part of a 'restructuring exercise,' and industry experts link it to changes in the US policies by President Donald Trump's who is trying to limit offshoring and reduce H-1B visas. Oracle Layoffs As per Data Centre Dynamics , Oracle's Indian operations also faced the cuts, along with layoffs in the US, Canada, and Mexico. In the US, teams working on Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) were informed about job losses and similar notices were issued to staff in other regions. Oracle's Presence In India India is a big hub for Oracle's software development, cloud services, and technical support, employing about 28,824 people as of 2024. Oracle has major offices in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Mumbai, Pune, Noida, and Kolkata. Recently, the company has been expanding into Tier-II and Tier-III cities like Chandigarh, Lucknow, Jaipur, Bhopal, and Thiruvananthapuram as per its geo-expansion strategy. Timing Of Oracle Layoffs The layoffs come just days after Oracle CEO Larry Wilson met US President Donald Trump at the White House on 7 August. The discussion reportedly focused on domestic hiring, national data security, and strategic tech partnerships. After this meeting Oracle started a large recruitment drive at its Virginia office in the US which raised concerns about job displacement from markets like India. In Mexico, too, employees have received layoff notices, and staff in other countries have been scheduled for undisclosed meetings, signalling more global cuts ahead. India's IT sector is mainly dependent on global tech firms for jobs so this move is worrisome for the future. Oracle has long been a bigger employer of Indian tech talent, and the sudden cuts can disrupt careers.
