Space regulator approves OneWeb India’s start of commercial satellite broadband services
IN-SPACe granted OneWeb India the required authorization to launch Eutelsat OneWeb’s commercial satellite broadband services in India. The first company to receive this authorization is OneWeb India. The low earth orbit operator, Eutelsat OneWeb, is a part of Eutelsat Group.
The Government of India’s IN-SPACe agency is in charge of authorizing and regulating space operations and providing permission to carry them out in the country. With this authorization, Eutelsat OneWeb can launch commercial connectivity services as soon as the government approves the distribution of spectrum.
This development strengthens Eutelsat OneWeb’s already dominant position in the Indian market, since OneWeb India is already holds licenses from the Department of Telecommunications to offer satellite-based broadband services. In addition, the company has received approval in principle to set up and run two gateways in Tamil Nadu and Gujarat. Once services are launched, these gateways will guarantee that clients throughout India have access to high-speed, low-latency internet connectivity.
Editor’s Note: Eutelsat OneWeb is the first to receive authorization to launch commercial satellite broadband service in India. The Indian Space Policy 2023, which aims to improve and regulate private sector participation in the space industry, was recently adopted by the Indian government. Almost 40% of India’s 1.4 billion inhabitants do not have access to the internet, with the majority of these individuals living in rural areas. The main element propelling the sector is satellite internet providers’ desire to get into rural markets before their rivals. The satellite internet business has a lot of potential given India’s massive population and the government’s push towards digitalization.
Murugappa Group, an Indian conglomerate, aims to enter the semiconductor space
The 123-year-old Murugappa Group is planning to build a $790 million manufacturing facility as part of its entry into the semiconductor industry.
This will be an interesting, high-tech addition to the Chennai-based $9 billion (revenue) engineering and financial services company, which works in 29 industries including finance, sugar, and auto components.
The Mumbai-based group company CG Power and Industrial Solutions will handle the expansion. It requested permission to establish a semiconductor plant earlier this week from the Indian government’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. Additionally, it has asked for a government subsidy to help with part of the plant’s startup expenses.
Editor’s Note: This is the latest news in our watch on the development on the promotion of semiconductor manufacturing in India. As per various reports, in total, 45 applications have been received by the government under its INR 760 billion initiative for semiconductor and display manufacturing as of the end of October 2023. These applications address nine requests for the setup of compound and ATMP facilities, five requests for the establishment of semiconductor fabs, two requests for display fabs, and 29 requests for the design-linked incentive program.
Mobile phones from Samsung and Apple increase exports of electronic goods: DGFT
A senior government official has stated that the surge in smartphone exports from companies like Apple and Samsung is contributing to the expansion of the electronic products sector. The Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), Santosh Kumar Sarangi, announced an “exponential” rise in electronics exports from India.
He continued by stating that by 2030, the country’s exports of goods and services would amount to $2 trillion, with businesses like as electronics, value-added agricultural products, solar panels and modules, and electric vehicles playing a significant role.
Editor’s Note: India’s exports of electronic goods increased in value from USD 15.66 billion to USD 23.57 billion in 2022–2023. According to DGFT, the India is headed toward reaching US$ 1 trillion in overall exports by 2027, having set an export goal of USD 500 billion for the fiscal year 2022–2023. Taiwanese contract manufacturing companies Foxconn, Wistron and Pegagron plays a crucial role in Apples increased export of Mobile phones from India.
Telecom PLI 2.0 to be released soon
With less than half of the 42 companies fulfilling their targets for FY23, the government is left with a surplus outlay of over Rs 1,500 crore and is considering releasing an updated version of the production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme and accepting new applications.
Officials with access to the information said that certain new telecom networking products should qualify for incentives under the updated plan. During conversations, a few companies had already expressed interest in the amended strategy, they claimed.
Sahasra Group, Thomson Computing to manufacture laptops and tablets in India
Sahasra Group將與法商Thomson聯手於印度生產筆電與平板
The media has reported that Sahasra Group, a recently approved government beneficiary based in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, has secured its first order to produce laptops for the French electronics brand Thomson locally. This gives India’s production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme (PLI 2.0) for IT hardware manufacturing a new lease on life. This would signal the arrival of reasonably priced Microsoft Windows 11 laptops in the nation, produced by domestic company Sahasra Group in association with Thomson.
According to an Economic Times report, the company has selected distribution partners and plans to launch its line of laptops and tablets in the Indian market in collaboration with its local subsidiary Metavisio Computing India.
Editor’s Note: Cloud Laptops are seeming to be gaining popularity in India. Thomson has also announced a sub 20k laptop based on Windows 11. The idea is to reduce ownership cost as Indian market is very much price sensitive.
India, EU sign MoU on semiconductors
An MoU on semiconductors was signed by the European Union and India before the EU-India Trade and Technology Council meeting.
Thierry Breton, European Commissioner for Internal Markets, and Shri. Ashwini Vaishnaw, Hon’ble Minister of Electronics, IT & Communications, signed the Memorandum of Understanding.
The MoU encompasses collaboration in a wide range of sectors spanning research and innovation, talent development, partnerships, and exchange of market information. Its goal is to increase the resilience of the semi-conductor value chain in India and the EU. According to a press statement from the Ministry of External Affairs, “The MoU symbolises the strong commitment between India and EU to work towards building robust semiconductor supply chains and work together on innovation.”
https://www.livemint.com/politics/policy/india-eu-sign-mou-on-semiconductors-11700844841435.html
Editor’s Note: The MoU talks about collaboration on a wide range of sectors covering R&D, Innovation, Talent development, partnerships, and exchange of market information. Earlier India has signed similar MoUs with US and Japan as well.
E-buses to account for 11-13% of new bus sales by FY25
By FY 2025, electric buses might account for up to 13% of all new bus sales, according to a November 17 ICRA report. The ICRA noted that some state regulations pertaining to electric EVs have set precise goals and deadlines for the implementation of e-buses, creating a well-defined path towards electrification.
ICRA predicts a sustained increase in demand for e-buses due to their significant operational cost reductions over conventional diesel buses, as reported by PTI.
In a report, ICRA presents electric buses, or “e-buses,” as the driving force for India’s electrification effort. It also projects the segment’s growth trajectory and predicts that by the fiscal year 2025, e-bus sales would account for 11–13 percent of all new bus sales.
Editor’s Note: This news items is a report on the study on E-Bus market of India done by ICRA. This shows the potential the market holds and can be looked up for engagement opportunities by Taiwanese companies.