Pioneering India’s Satellite Connectivity Beyond Borders

NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), the commercial arm of ISRO, is embarking on a groundbreaking mission by selecting SpaceX’s Falcon 9 for the launch of GSAT-20 in the second quarter of 2024. Weighing a substantial 4,700 kg, GSAT-20, now rebranded as GSAT-N2, is a High Throughput Satellite (HTS) designed to revolutionize India’s broadband landscape. This marks NSIL’s second ‘demand-driven’ satellite launch, and the choice of Falcon 9 illustrates a strategic move to overcome payload limitations posed by India’s current rockets. The significance of GSAT-20 lies in its role as a high-capacity communication satellite, delivering broadband services, including In-flight and Maritime Connectivity (IFMC), with Pan-India coverage, encompassing remote areas like Andaman, Nicobar, and Lakshadweep islands. As NSIL forges ahead with SpaceX, the mission symbolizes a cosmic alliance propelling India’s technological prowess and connectivity aspirations to new celestial heights.