Is Antrix marketing wing of ISRO or a regulator?

News of Antrix website getting hacked seems to generate lot of interest immediately after the first full successful commercial launch of augmented PSLV British payloads. This launch has all the three elements of Department of Space: Launch Vehicle, PSLV under ISRO is modified to suit the increased Payload and multiple launch, ANTRIX, purely commercial contract without a single Indian satellite as payload and SDSC, Launch Pad capabilities to get ready for Integration of Multiple Payloads for Foreign customers. May be it is a prankish coincidence or intentional intervention by some interested country’s strategy but the hacking method does not augur well for the quasi NavRatna , say Space Ratna.

May be this is a good time to give a hard thinking on the options available for ISRO’s commercial wing, ANTRIX as to prepare a strategy on International agreements with respect to value for money criterion on investments for ISRO.

Of course, Space is no single country’s property: the authority of any country in respect of space usage is limited to Spectrum control but not topological control. A satellite can be geographically parked on longitudes that hypothetically pass through any land subject to certain International agreed conditions on usage in the country having foot print.

Also read: ISRO’s marketing arm Antrix’s website hacked

There are limited number of countries that have indigenous capability on Space Technology, India being one such country and the strengths of ISRO are not fully exploited commercially but continue to be only technology demonstrators, may be even after almost 40 plus years of existence. This needs major geo- political strategy in regard to competition, particularly in Asian Continent as we have strong competition from the neighbouring country. China is almost at a higher level of technology compared to India: they succeeded in advanced Technologies and commercially successfully too with the infra support.

Dominance is not the buzz thing in space but capability and relevance to the country’s needs is the most important consideration so far as Technology is considered. Tendency in Indian Science and Technology forums seems only to highlight International competitiveness but does not seem to address the benefits that accrue to the local public on one side or the local businesses in terms of profitability. We hamper for import of technology or anything and use brainy people to claim achievements: no doubt we built capabilities but how much of is applicable to local needs is to be looked into by the research organizations.

Even in education institutes, we are preparing students for export, how far that can meet PM Modi’s make in India? Space research organization needs to encourage PPP model if we have to address applicability and not just budgetary sanctions and implemented by ONLY Government organizations. In this consideration ISRO via ANTRIX can show lead in keeping faith on not just Public Enterprises like NavRatnas but private research organizations need encouragement if not monetary support.

We in India seem not to understand the sectors of Research and Development of Science and Technology on one side and Services sector on the other. ISRO, unlike NASA or ESA, is a research organization, Regulator of Space Applications and a canalizing agency for space requirements of the industry. These functions have no coherence in implementation except budget allocations. Service sector is mostly in Private sector which proved efficiency vis-à-vis Public sector: this is apparent in the two technology services namely Communications and transport (Aviation).

Even DTH services can be an example because of the private sector involvement with all restrictions from the regulators. Statistics show the eyeballs catching percentage to private DTH operators is considerably higher (without compulsion) than the Prasar Bharti owned DD Free dish (with compulsion). May be it is assumed that social causes compulsion needs to be met but are we dreaming that Technology and Science are really solving societal problems?

ISRO and ANTRIX can get rid of its role of a canalizing agency of the satellite capacity for the private consumers like DTH operators, VSAT operators, DSNG users etc. Regulatory is impossible but under International laws and Private DTH service /VSAT operators and DSNG users should be allowed to go in for Transponder usage based on their markets without monopoly. With plenty of bandwidth available on local footprint, regulator can allow contracts with technical and spectrum compatibility issues only, and ISRO need not participate through ANTRIX for leasing the transponder and then subleasing to Indian DTH and other operators.

Chinese satellite operators are dumping their capacity in India at throw away prices which does not augurs well for the Satellite operators as the effective yield will come down per unit of sales and will impact ISRO as a satellite operator.

Private users of the satellite bandwidth in Ku band in India are not getting to do business and negotiate with Satellite operators to pass on benefit to their customers and are forced to rely on ANTRIX. It may be prudent for a positive attitude from Regulator to see Indian businesses to succeed instead of putting some log in the route to success.  When today ISRO has allowed C band capacity to be dealt directly by the users then it can follow the same route to the Ku band capacity also. It will make market more competitive, save foreign exchange for the country and will make available plenty of options to the users. Ultimately, the end consumer will benefit.

Let the competitive scenario with respect to the neighbouring country be dealt by Service provider and not be the responsibility of Regulator: this can lead to local providers and customer’s happiness.

--Prof. G. Tirumala Rao

Presently engaged as Professor in GVP Engineering College, with 43 years of experience in ISRO, HCL Comnet, and Consultancy on Satellite Communications, Networking, Internet and New Generation Technologies. Experience in Licensing issues from Regulator, high exposure to International and Domestic operations. Was holding positions as Vice President in PANAMSAT for APAC and also consultant for Internet Gateways to reputed Indian and Foreign Organisations.