IN-SPACe blocks Chinese-owned AsiaSat services in India beyond March 2026; Zee, JioStar begin migration to other satellites

Economic Times

17 hours ago

Synopsis
India will not allow AsiaSat's AS-5 and AS-7 satellites after March 31, 2026. This decision comes from the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre. Concerns exist over AsiaSat's Chinese ownership. JioStar and Zee Entertainment are moving to other satellites. The move aligns with India's focus on national security. New rules require government approval for foreign satellites.
Agencies Representational image The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) has withdrawn authorisation for the use of satellite capacity from Asia Satellite Telecommunications Company's (AsiaSat) AS-5 and AS-7 satellites in India beyond March 31, 2026, the ministry of information and broadcasting (MIB) said in an advisory on Monday.
While the government has not specified the reason for withdrawal of IN-SPACe authorisation, sources privy to the development said the move stems from concerns over the company's significant Chinese ownership.
AsiaSat's key shareholders include Chinese government-owned CITIC Group Corporation, formerly known as China International Trust and Investment Corporation, and Carlyle Asia Partners IV, LP.
Currently, broadcasters such as JioStar and Zee Entertainment rely on these AsiaSat satellites to beam their channels. "JioStar and Zee Entertainment are in the process of migrating to government-authorised satellites including GSAT and Intelsat," said an executive familiar with the development.
AsiaSat operates six in-orbit satellites: AsiaSat 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, along with associated teleport infrastructure. The withdrawal of access to AS-5 and AS-7 signals a decisive shift in India's approach to satellite communications, aligning it more closely with national security and strategic autonomy goals.IN-SPACe, in a communication dated July 21, 2025, confirmed that Inorbit Space Telecommunications had been authorised to provision AS-5 and AS-7 capacity until March 2026. After that, the satellites can no longer be used for communication services in India.Inorbit Space Telecommunications was incorporated on June 20, 2024 and has Rajdeepsinh Gohil and Rohit Arora as directors. Gohil, who is the MD of Inorbit Space Telecommunications, has been associated with AsiaSat for over a decade in multiple roles, according to his LinkedIn profile.'Further clarification with regard to authorisation of these satellites, if any, may be sought from IN-SPACe, being the nodal agency for matters related to authorisation of satellites,' the MIB said in its advisory.This directive aligns with the broader regulatory overhaul introduced last year, which requires all satellite TV channels and teleport operators to obtain government-backed authorisation via IN-SPACe before using foreign satellite capacity.On July 10, 2024, the MIB permitted a temporary extension for existing foreign satellite capacity arrangements in C, Ku, or Ka bands until March 31, 2025. This was later extended to September 30, 2025.All fresh applications for satellite capacity authorisation must now be submitted by Indian entities such as subsidiaries, joint ventures, or authorised representatives of the foreign satellite operator through the IN-SPACe portal.'Fresh authorisation from IN-SPACe shall be required for non-Indian satellites already provisioning their capacity in India,' the advisory said. It added that no additional capacity or new foreign satellites will be permitted without such authorisation after September 30, 2025.From October 1, 2025, only non-Indian satellites explicitly authorised by IN-SPACe will be allowed to offer their capacity in India across any frequency band.According to the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro), India currently operates a fleet of 19 communication satellites across C, extended C, Ku, Ka/Ku and S bands. Of these, 12 are managed by NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), the commercial arm of the Department of Space.