Satellite communication in India - UPSC Science & Technology

Satellite communication (Satcom) stands as a crucial enabler of ubiquitous connectivity, particularly in remote and challenging terrains across the country. With its potential to fuel the next telecom revolution, the Satcom industry in India holds promise for bridging connectivity gaps and transforming rural landscapes.

Table of Contents

What is a Satellite?

A satellite refers to an object orbiting the sun, Earth, or other celestial bodies, categorized into natural and man-made classifications. In the realm of artificial satellites, they serve diverse purposes, classified into four main types:

Geostationary Satellites (Communication): Notable examples include INSAT, GSAT, EDUSAT, and HAMSAT, facilitating communication services.
Earth Observation Satellites: IRS series, CARTOSAT, RESOURCESAT, OCEANSAT, RISAT, and ASTROSAT contribute to various applications such as remote sensing and astronomy.
Navigation Satellites: GAGAN and IRNSS, now NAVIC, bolster navigation and positioning services.
Space Missions: MOM, Gaganyaan, and Chandrayaan 2 signify India’s prowess in space exploration and scientific endeavors.
Small Satellites: Nano satellites like Jugnoo augment satellite capabilities in diverse domains.

Satellite Communication:

Imagine communication satellites as celestial mirrors, reflecting signals like radio waves, internet data, and television broadcasts across vast distances on Earth. To grasp the workings of satellite communication, consider the following stages:

Uplink:

Signals, such as television broadcasts, originate from ground stations on Earth and are transmitted upwards towards the satellite. This initial transmission phase is known as the uplink.

Transponders:

Within the satellite, transponders act as crucial components. These sophisticated devices receive incoming signals, amplify them, and alter their frequencies without affecting outgoing signals. The configuration of transponders varies based on the source of incoming signals.

Downlink:

In the final stage, processed data is relayed back to Earth. This transmission from the satellite to receivers on Earth is known as the downlink. It’s important to note that while there is typically one uplink, there can be multiple downlinks serving different regions.

Advantages of Satellite Communication for India

Access to Remote Areas: Approximately 20-25% of India’s population resides in regions inaccessible by terrestrial telecom networks, lacking mobile and internet connectivity. Satellite communication bridges this gap by reaching these remote areas effortlessly.
Cost-Effective Solution for Challenging Terrain: Traditional terrestrial telecom infrastructure deployment in rugged terrains can incur expenses up to 15 times higher than in accessible areas. Satcom offers a more economical alternative, especially in sparsely populated regions with low average revenue per user.
Improved Backhaul for Mobile Networks: Satcom presents an opportunity to enhance backhaul for mobile service providers operating in remote regions, thereby augmenting the reliability and performance of mobile networks, which currently face limitations in fibre connectivity.
Reliability and Quality Enhancement: With only 35% of mobile base stations connected to fibre, satellite communication emerges as a dependable and high-quality alternative, outperforming microwave technology, particularly in challenging terrains.
Empowerment of Rural Economy: Satellite communication facilitates village connectivity, educational initiatives, healthcare services including telemedicine, efficient warehousing, and public distribution systems, fostering economic growth and development in rural and remote areas.
Futuristic Applications: In the future, satellite communication will drive advanced data communications among machines and sensors, enabling innovative services like IoT device connectivity, cargo and vehicle tracking, railway safety systems, traffic management, soil condition mapping, and monitoring of industrial pipelines.
Vital Role in Strategic Operations: Satellite communication plays a crucial role in military endeavors, coastal surveillance, border security, disaster response, and other critical operations, ensuring seamless communication and coordination in mission-critical scenarios.

Indian National Satellite (INSAT)

The Indian National Satellite (INSAT) system comprises nine operational communication satellites positioned in Geostationary orbit, making it one of the most extensive domestic communication satellite networks across the Asia-Pacific region.

Since the launch of INSAT-1B in 1983, the INSAT system has spearheaded a significant revolution in India’s communication landscape, a transformation that continues to endure. Equipped with over 200 transponders operating in the C, Extended C, and Ku bands, the INSAT system serves as a backbone for various crucial services including telecommunications, television broadcasting, satellite newsgathering, societal applications, weather forecasting, disaster warning, and Search and Rescue operations.

The INSAT system has played a pivotal role in modernizing television and radio broadcasting, telecommunications infrastructure, and meteorological services across India. It has facilitated the swift expansion of television coverage and modern communication networks to remote regions and offshore islands, bridging connectivity gaps. The Master Control Facilities situated in Hassan and Bhopal serve as central hubs for monitoring and controlling the INSAT satellites, ensuring seamless operations and service delivery.

INSAT Applications in India

Direct-To-Home (DTH) Services
- India’s DTH market, the largest and most competitive, benefits from the extensive capacity of the INSAT/GSAT fleet, serving over 70 million active subscribers with high-quality television broadcasting.
Digital Satellite News Gathering (DSNG) Services
- Enabled by NSIL, news channels deliver live coverage to approximately 185 million television sets nationwide, utilizing DSNG services available in the C and Ku bands for outdoor broadcasting.
Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) Services
- VSAT services bolster India’s telecom infrastructure, offering connectivity solutions to diverse sectors such as banking, ATMs, oil and gas, financial institutions, telecommunications, and enterprises. They bridge connectivity gaps in remote areas where terrestrial networks face challenges.
Private TV Uplinking / Commercial Teleport Operations
- Under ISRO’s commercial arm, private TV channels leverage their teleports and ground stations nationwide to uplink content onto the INSAT/GSAT fleet, ensuring seamless broadcasting.
Tele-Education
- The tele-education project facilitates satellite-based distance education across schools, colleges, and universities nationwide, aiming to democratize access to quality education.
Telemedicine
- Satellite-based telemedicine services extend Super-Specialty doctor consultations to rural areas, enhancing healthcare accessibility and bridging the urban-rural healthcare divide.
Mobile Satellite Services (MSS)
- Critical for national disaster management and strategic applications, MSS provides one-way text messaging, position reporting, and upgraded two-way data communication services, ensuring robust connectivity during emergencies.
Satcom-Based Broadband Virtual Private Network (VPN) for Disaster Management
- Established by ISRO in 2008, the Satcom-based broadband VPN, operational on the GSAT-12 satellite in the Ext-C band, serves as a vital tool for disaster management support, offering seamless communication during crisis situations.

Indian Remote Sensing (IRS)

The launch and activation of IRS-1A, India’s inaugural operational Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) Satellite in 1988, inaugurated the era of operational remote sensing data and services in the country. Concurrently, India established the National Natural Resources Management System (NNRMS) as an institutional framework to operationalize the use of satellite data.

Since then, India has embarked on a succession of IRS satellite launches, facilitated by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), which presently manages four satellite series: Resources, RISAT, Cartosat, and Oceansat. Additionally, INSAT-3D/3DR satellites serve meteorological purposes.

The IRS Satellite System:

Remote sensing satellites are spaceborne platforms equipped with sensors capable of capturing Earth imagery and data. These sensors detect various forms of radiation emitted or reflected from the Earth’s surface, enabling diverse applications such as weather monitoring, disaster management, agriculture, forestry, and land use analysis. India’s maiden civilian IRS-1A satellite, launched in March 1988, marked a significant milestone in the country’s space endeavors. The National Natural Resources Management System (NNRMS) oversees India’s Earth Observation initiatives, coordinating satellite-based monitoring and management of natural resources.

India’s Earth Observation system, comprising the Indian Remote Sensing Satellites (IRS) and INSAT systems, serves a wide spectrum of operational needs with specialized payloads. Operating one of the world’s most extensive constellations of remote sensing satellites, the Indian Remote Sensing Satellite System provides data across various spatial, spectral, and temporal resolutions. The National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), situated approximately 55 kilometers from Hyderabad, operates an earth station in Shadnagar. This facility receives data from a multitude of contemporary remote sensing satellites and serves as a central hub for distributing remote sensing data products within India and neighboring regions.

Applications of Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) Satellites:

Agriculture and Soil Applications:

Mapping cropping patterns.
Estimation of pre-harvest crop area, production, and yield.
Assessing crop conditions and monitoring command areas.
Monitoring compliance with farming practices, e.g., crop stubble burning.
Identifying suitable sites for various agricultural practices.
Mapping soil characteristics, management practices, and saline soils.
Inventorying and categorizing wastelands.
Identifying fishery prospects.

Bio-resources and Environmental Applications:

Mapping forest cover, density, and species inventory.
Assessing forest biophysical conditions and health.
Mapping social forestry and agroforestry areas.
Estimating biomass and monitoring afforestation/deforestation.
Surveillance of forest fires and monitoring forest health.
Surveying existing bio-resources and assessing environmental impact.
Mapping and monitoring protected areas like tiger reserves and biosphere reserves.
Assessing fuel wood and timber resources and conducting hazard-related studies.

Geology and Mineral Resources Applications:

Mapping surficial deposits, bedrock, lithology, and structure.
Prospecting and exploring minerals.
Mapping and monitoring geo-hazards.

Oceanography Applications:

Identifying potential fishery zones and assessing habitat.
Monitoring marine pollution, sedimentation, and dynamics.
Assessing tidal fluctuations, sea level changes, and coastal circulations.

Water Resources Applications:

Mapping surface water bodies and potential groundwater resources.
Monitoring wetlands, snowpack, glacial dynamics, and rivers.
Forecasting snowmelt runoff and monitoring floods and reservoirs.
Managing irrigation and flood control.

Urban Sector Applications:

Mapping land use and land cover and analyzing urban sprawl.
Identifying illegal encroachments and constructions.
Assessing property taxes and estimating populations.
Planning transportation, urban services, and utilities.
Detecting and monitoring slums and conducting site suitability analysis.

Cartography Applications:

Generating topographic maps using data from Cartosat series satellites.
Mapping natural and man-made features for resource management.
Integrating geo-referenced data with GIS for planning and monitoring.
Creating baseline, thematic, and 2D/3D topographical maps for various purposes including civilian and military reconnaissance.

FAQs

1. What is ISRO and what does it do?

Answer: ISRO, the Indian Space Research Organisation, is India’s premier space agency responsible for the nation’s space research and exploration activities. Established in 1969, ISRO designs, develops, and launches satellites for communication, navigation, earth observation, and scientific research. It also conducts space exploration missions, develops launch vehicles, and fosters international collaborations in space technology.

2. What are some notable achievements of ISRO in recent years?

Answer: ISRO has achieved several milestones in recent years. Notable accomplishments include the Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan) in 2013, making India the first Asian nation to reach Mars orbit and the fourth space agency globally to do so. Additionally, ISRO’s successful launch of a record 104 satellites in a single mission in 2017 garnered international acclaim, showcasing India’s prowess in cost-effective space technology.

3. How does India’s space program benefit its citizens and industries?

Answer: India’s space program has numerous benefits for its citizens and industries. ISRO’s satellite services support communication, broadcasting, weather forecasting, disaster management, and resource mapping, enhancing national security and socioeconomic development. Additionally, ISRO’s satellite launches for commercial purposes provide cost-effective solutions for global customers, generating revenue and fostering technological innovation within the country.

4. What are India’s future plans for space exploration and development?

Answer: India has ambitious plans for space exploration and development. ISRO aims to launch the Chandrayaan-3 mission, intended to further explore the moon’s surface and analyze its resources. Additionally, ISRO is working on the Gaganyaan mission, India’s first manned spaceflight program, which aims to send Indian astronauts into space. Furthermore, ISRO continues to develop advanced satellite technology, launch vehicles, and space infrastructure to expand India’s presence in space exploration and research.

5. How does India collaborate with other nations in space exploration and technology?

Answer: India actively collaborates with other nations in space exploration and technology. ISRO engages in joint satellite projects, scientific research, and capacity-building initiatives with various countries and international organizations. Notable collaborations include partnerships with NASA, ESA (European Space Agency), Roscosmos (Russian Space Agency), and space agencies of countries like France, Japan, and Israel. These collaborations facilitate knowledge exchange, technology transfer, and mutual exploration of space for peaceful purposes.

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Satellite communication in India – UPSC Science & Technology