Amazon seeks approval from the regulator for satcom services in India
Amazon seeks approval from the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe) to enter India’s satcom market.
According to a report from ET, Amazon’s satellite communications unit, Project Kuiper, plans to silently apply for a global mobile personal communication by satellite services (GMPCS) license from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT).
According to the company’s website, through its broadband-from-space offerings, Amazon intends to provide a variety of services to clients with broadband speeds ranging from 100 Mbps to 1 Gbps. By the end of next year, the new service is anticipated to become operational.
Amazon and Project Kuiper intend to simultaneously implement satcom services in India.
Editor’s Note: India’s Space Policy 2023 allowed private low-earth orbit (LEO) and medium-earth orbit (MEO) satellite constellation operators to launch fast broadband from space services in the country. The new policy permits foreign entities to set up infrastructure and offer satellite services. Amazon is the latest entrant applying for license. This will be the next technology where in hardware requirements will be more.
Potential business transactions worth $75 million at Taiwan Expo India 2023
James C.F. Huang, Chairman of the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA), and Shri Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister of the Government of Maharashtra, along with other dignitaries representing Taiwan and India Excellence, formally inaugurated the three-day Taiwan Expo India (Oct. 5–7, 2023) with the theme of “Explore Taiwan in India.
After three jam-packed days of business interactions, product displays, events, and networking, the 6th iteration of the Taiwan Expo India 2023, which includes exhibitions and networking functions, came to a sparkling conclusion. Over 15,000 people from various business sectors, including aspiring entrepreneurs, SME owners, and city residents as a whole, attended the Expo, which generated over $75 million in business potential.
With regard to important categories including Smart Manufacturing, Smart City, Smart Medical, Smart Agriculture, Smart Lifestyle, and EV, the Expo featured 6 themes and 7 pavilions.
The Taiwan Expo will continue to be held in 2024, according to TAITRA, which also extends a warm invitation to Indian citizens to visit.
Editor’s Note: A report about the Taiwan Expo organized by TAITRA in Mumbai wherein ICC of TCA has also set up a pavilion on Smart Manufacturing showcasing 4 companies from Taiwan. ICC of TCA has also arranged few B2B networking events along with local business visits for the visiting delegation, which was lead by Dr. Chen Yu Lee, CEO of ICC.
India wants e-scooter makers return USD 60 mn aid for using China components
In response to India’s aggressive attempts to promote green initiatives in the largest two-wheeler market in the world, a huge number of electric scooter startups have quickly emerged. However, because they rely on Chinese parts rather than locally obtained materials, these firms are currently losing favor.
Due to their violation of localization laws, six electric scooter manufacturers, including Hero Electric Vehicles Pvt, a former leader in the Indian e-scooter market, have come under fire from the Indian government. They have been ordered to repay 5 billion rupees ($60 million) in subsidies. Furthermore, payments that are owed to other businesses are being withheld, which has a substantial negative impact on their finances. These circumstances have made the funding environment for these firms difficult.
This problem has its roots in a series of e-scooter fires that occurred last year, including accidents involving Okinawa Autotech International Pvt and Ola Electric Mobility Pvt. The study found that certain manufacturers had less control over the quality of their final products since they were importing ready-to-use parts, particularly from China. Customers’ safety was at stake because of this circumstance.
Editor’s Note: This is an eyeopener for companies and to be careful in ensuring quality of components and part used in their product to ensure safety and security along with quality at the same time. This is especially at the time when the Govt is providing many incentives for various sectors to boost their market in India along with supply chain augmentation.
ICEA encourages global and Indian manufacturers to use the updated PLI plan for IT hardware
The Government of India’s Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme 2.0 for IT Hardware presents opportunities that the India Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA) is urging local and foreign supply chain partners to take advantage of.
The initiative, which has a budget of over $2 billion, is an important step in strengthening India’s IT Hardware manufacturing sector because it gives both domestic and international supply chains the option to develop or extend their manufacturing facilities in this expanding market.
A variety of IT hardware products, including laptops, tablets, all-in-one PCs, servers, and ultra-small form factor devices, are included in the PLI 2.0 scheme. Its goal is to produce $25 billion worth of IT hardware, with exports expected to total between $12 and $17 billion by 2025 or 2026.
Plans to increase foreign investment in the space industry: Chairman S Somnath
A policy governing international Direct Investment (FDI) is anticipated to be announced “soon,” according to the Chairman of the national space agency, ISRO, which is trying to increase international investment in the nation’s space industry.
The Department for Promotion of Industry & Internal Trade (DPIIT), which collaborates closely with IN-SPACe, the Communications Ministry, and the Department of Space (DoS), will soon announce the new FDI regulations for the space sector.
Editor’s Note: This will be a very good opportunity for Taiwanese companies/Startups who are looking at collaborating with India on Space Technology related products/technologies/services.