New Delhi (ABC Live): The Parliamentary Committee on Public Accounts (PAC) has raised concerns over the alleged underutilization of six Extended C-Band transponders on the GSAT-18 satellite, which have reportedly remained idle since its launch in 2016. The PAC labels the ?17.27 crore expense as avoidable. However, the Department of Space (DoS) strongly defends the decision, citing technical and strategic reasons that challenge the Committee’s conclusions.

PAC Report Highlights Idle Capacity on GSAT-18

The PAC’s 20th Report (2024-25) highlights that, due to spectrum limits at the 74°E orbital slot, only 12 Extended C-Band transponders can be active simultaneously. Since GSAT-14 already operated six such transponders, half of GSAT-18’s capacity remained unused, raising questions of financial prudence and planning.

DoS’s Arguments Against PAC Critique

The Department of Space offers several compelling counterpoints against the PAC’s assessment:

• Regulatory Compliance: ITU regulations require continuous occupancy of orbital slots to maintain spectrum rights. The overlapping transponders on GSAT-18 ensured India retained its critical spectrum allocation, a strategic imperative the PAC’s report underestimates.

• Technical Risk Mitigation: GSAT-14 was launched on a developmental GSLV Mk II flight with inherent uncertainties about lifetime and performance. Carrying spare transponders on GSAT-18 provided necessary redundancy, safeguarding communication continuity.

• Financial Justification: The ?17.27 crore upfront cost on idle transponders is projected to generate approximately ?117 crore over five years post-2027, dwarfing the initial expense. Moreover, launching a separate satellite solely for six transponders would cost over ?110 crore, a scenario the PAC did not sufficiently weigh.

• Operational Realities: Delaying GSAT-18’s launch to optimize payload utilization was not feasible without risking service disruption, given the imminent end-of-life of INSAT-3C in late 2016.

• Governance Transitions: Responsibility for commercial satellite capacity shifted from DoS/ISRO to NSIL in 2021. This institutional evolution complicates strict backward-looking accountability, an aspect the PAC report glosses over.

Who Is Responsible?

Responsibility for GSAT-18 planning and utilization involves multiple stakeholders:

• Department of Space (DoS) and ISRO: Planned and launched GSAT-18 in 2016, with technical and financial approvals from expert committees and the Cabinet.

• New Space India Limited (NSIL): Since April 2021, manages commercial satellite capacity and replacement scheduling under DoS policy.

• Parliamentary Committee on Public Accounts (PAC): Provides oversight but does not direct operational decisions.

The PAC criticized a coordination gap between legacy planning (DoS/ISRO) and commercial management (NSIL), calling for improved accountability and unified planning.

Who Benefits from the GSAT-18 Satellite Utilization Strategy?

The GSAT-18 transponder deployment benefits a broad range of stakeholders:

• India’s National Interests: Protecting spectrum rights and orbital slot under ITU regulations safeguards national sovereignty in space.

• Government and Public Services: Ensures uninterrupted communication critical for defense, disaster management, broadcasting, and governance.

• Commercial Users: Post-2027, six Extended C-Band transponders on GSAT-18 will be leased commercially, generating significant revenue (~?117 crore).

• DoS and NSIL: Enables optimized asset utilization and revenue generation while fulfilling national service mandates.

• Taxpayers: Long-term planning avoids costly separate satellite launches, aiming to conserve public funds.

Governance and Financial Prudence Under Scrutiny

While the PAC calls for tighter economic scrutiny and earlier replacement planning, DoS stresses balancing long satellite development cycles, regulatory compliance, and service continuity. The Committee’s focus on short-term cost efficiency arguably overlooks long-term strategic risk management.

Broader Implications for India’s Space Sector

The GSAT-18 case highlights the complexity of managing satellite assets at the intersection of technology, regulation, commerce, and governance. Experts advocate for better ISRO-NSIL coordination, formal capacity audits, and enhanced forecasting to prevent underutilization without compromising spectrum security.

Conclusion

The PAC report reminds us of the vital need for accountability in public expenditure. However, DoS’s defense reveals that seemingly idle satellite capacity serves as a strategic buffer essential for India’s space communication sovereignty and continuity.

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