Event Overview

The 3rd India Space Policy Conference, to be held on 22–23 July 2026 in New Delhi, comes at a pivotal moment as India’s satellite communications sector transitions from policy vision to large-scale commercial deployment. Building on the momentum of the Indian Space Policy 2025 and recent regulatory and market developments, the conference will bring together senior policymakers, regulators, global satellite operators, and industry leaders to deliberate on spectrum frameworks, licensing, satellite–terrestrial convergence, and emerging technologies such as direct-to-device (D2D). Organised by the ITU-APT Foundation of India (IAFI) and Forum Global, UK, the conference aims to foster dialogue, enable investment clarity, and position India as a leading hub in the rapidly evolving global space and satcom ecosystem.

The 3rd India Space Policy Conference (22–23 July 2026, New Delhi) convenes top policymakers, regulators, and global industry leaders at a defining moment for India’s satellite communications sector. Join the dialogue shaping spectrum, licensing, and next-generation satellite–terrestrial connectivity as India accelerates into a new era of space-driven digital growth.

TOPICS TO BE DISCUSSED

Key Themes

India's Space Policy Framework and Recent Reforms
Enterprise connectivity using satellite services
Collaborations, Partnerships and technology developments
D2D Technology, Regulations and Standards
Spectrum Issues for satellite Services and WRC-27
Space Sustainability and Debris Management
Spectrum Issues for D2D – WRC-27 Agenda Items
Business and Policy Session: D2D Market Opportunities

Confirmed Speakers

Syed Tausif Abbas
Shri Anil Kumar Lahoti

Chairman
TRAI

Shri Manish Sinha

Member Finance
Department of Telecommunications Govt. of India

Shri Deb Kumar Chakrabarti

Member Services
Department of Telecommunications Govt. of India

Shri Ritu Ranjan Mittar*

Member
Telecom Regulatory Authority of India

NK Bhola
Shri NK Bhola

Wireless Advisor, WPC
Department of Telecommunications
Govt. of India

Shri Syed Tausif Abbas

Sr. DDG & Head TEC, DoT, Govt. of India and CMD, TCIL

Ms. M. Revathi
Dr. Revathi Mannepalli

Joint Wireless Advisor, DoT, Government of India and India’s candidate for Director, BR-ITU

Mr. Tom Hastings
Mr. Tom Hastings

Associate Chief
FCC Space Bureau

Gulab Chand
Shri Gulab Chand

Joint Wireless Advisor
Department of Telecommunications
Govt. of India

Isabelle Mauro
Ms. Isabelle Mauro

Director General
GSOA

Shri Gautam Sharma

Managing Director
Viasat, India

Dr. PK Jain

Director, PMAD
IN-SPACe, Department of Space
Govt. of India

Isabelle Mauro
Shri Prabhat Dikshit

DDG (Satellite)
Department of Telecommunications
Govt. of India

Jitendra Sing
Shri Jitendra Singh

Head, Govt. Affairs
Qualcomm India

Chris Hofer
Mr. Chris Hofer

Head, International Spectrum Management and Strategy
Amazon Leo

Michael Howells
Mr. Michael Howells

Global Head of Strategic Relationships & Market Development
Viasat

Michael Howells
Ms. Cindy Cook

Vice President & Global Head of Spectrum and Technology Regulations, Ericsson

Lt Gen Anil Kumar Bhatt

Director General
Indian Space Association (ISpA)

Dr. Bulbul Mukherjee

Deputy Director, Safe and Sustainable
Operations, Management Area
(SSOMA), ISTRA, ISRO Headquarter

Ms. Sonali Nanda

Deputy Director, PMAD
IN-SPACe, Department of Space
Govt. of India

Shri Arun Agarwal

Principal Advisor (NSL)
Telecom Regulatory Authority of India

Shri Rahul Vatts

Group Chief Regulatory Officer and Director - Corporate Affairs,
Bharti Airtel

Shri Prafulla Kumar

VP & Head, Technology and Products (SATCOM), Jio Satellite Communications Limited

Shri RK Pathak

Director General
Bharat 6G Alliance, India

Laura Roberti
Dr. Laura Roberti

Director for Spectrum & Market Access, Telesat

Shri Faheem Shaikh

Primary lead for Licensing and Regulatory Affairs South Asian Countries, Amazon Leo

Mr. Cristian Gomez

Vice President, Government & Regulatory, Asia Pacific, Viasat Inc.

Mr. Carlos Riopedre

Managing Director and Board Member, Sateliot

Shri Vinay Paliwal

Deputy Director, Programme Management and Authorization Directorate IN-SPACe, Department of Space, Govt. of India

Lt. Gen Dr Rajesh Pant

Chairman, Cyber security association of India and Former National Cyber Security Coordinator, PMO Office

Shri Keyur Gandhi

Director - Space Regulatory & Commercialization, Dhruva Space

Shri Lokesh Kabdal

Co-Founder & CEO
VyomIC

Ms. Marta Donate Fuente*

Spectrum Engineer
Eutelsat OneWeb

Shri Mehul R Joshi

DDG (Security Assurance)
Department of Telecommunications
Govt. of India

Shri Vikas Garg

Deputy Director General (SPPI)
Department of Telecommunications
Govt. of India

Shri Arun Kumar

Deputy Wireless Advisor (ISR)
Department of Telecommunications
Govt. of India

Dr. Punit Rathod

Lead Technical Standards
Qualcomm, India

Ms. Alka Selot Asthana

Head of Regulatory Affairs, Tata Communications

Shri Amit Sharma

Founder & Managing Director
Amitec Electronics Ltd.

Shri Vikram Tiwathia

Senior Advisor
COAI

Dr. (Hon.) Govind Pathak

Author & Technology Strategist, Systems Thinker, International Book Awards 2026 Finalist (Science)

Shri Pankaj Sharma

Partner Regulatory Consulting

EY

Shri Aniruddh Rao Kabbinale

Founder & CEO, Maargin Research and Innovation Pvt. Ltd., Bengaluru

Shri Tilak Raj Dua

Chairman
IAFI

Mr. Dan Craft

Co-Founder, Managing Partner at Forum Europe & Forum Global

Shri Bharat Bhatia

President & CEO, ITU-APT Foundation of India (IAFI) & Vice Chairman of
the Wireless World Research Forum
(WWRF)

Conference Partners

Our Sponsors
Supported by
Media Partners

Agenda

22 – 23 July 2026

Day 1 – Wednesday, 22 July 2026
09:00 – 10:00 | Registration & Welcome Tea
10:00 – 11:00 | Opening Session: Inaugural & Keynote Addresses
The conference will open with keynote addresses from senior government leaders, regulators, and industry executives, setting the tone for discussions on India’s evolving space and satellite communications landscape. The session will highlight recent policy milestones, strategic priorities, and India’s ambitions in the global space economy.
11:00 – 11:15 | Networking Coffee Break
11:15 – 12:45 | Session 1: From Policy to Implementation – Is India’s Space Framework Delivering?
With the Indian Space Policy 2023 and the Telecommunications Act providing the foundational framework, this session will assess how effectively India has transitioned from policy formulation to implementation. Discussions will focus on licensing processes, spectrum assignment mechanisms, institutional coordination between DoT and IN-SPACe, and whether current frameworks are enabling timely market entry and investment.
12:45 – 13:15 | Fireside Chat with High Level Visionary Speaker: Global Regulatory Framework for Non-GSO Satellite systems
With the Indian Space Policy 2023 and the Telecommunications Act providing the foundational framework, this session will assess how effectively India has transitioned from policy formulation to implementation. Discussions will focus on licensing processes, spectrum assignment mechanisms, institutional coordination between DoT and IN-SPACe, and whether current frameworks are enabling timely market entry and investment.
13:15 – 14:00 | Networking Lunch
14:00 – 15:30 | Session 2: WRC-27 – The Final Stretch
As preparations intensify for WRC-27, this session will examine India’s strategic priorities across key agenda items, including NGSO spectrum, IMT identification, and direct-to-device services. Panellists will explore global and regional alignments, potential areas of contention, and how India can position itself to safeguard national interests while contributing to international consensus.
15:30 – 15:45 | Networking Tea/Coffee
15:45 – 17:15 | Session 3: Competition & Licensing – Has a Level Playing Field Emerged?
With evolving recommendations on spectrum pricing and administrative allocation, this session will analyse whether India’s regulatory environment is fostering fair competition between satellite and terrestrial operators. It will explore licensing frameworks, market entry conditions, and how policy can balance innovation, affordability, and sustainable competition in a rapidly expanding satcom market.
Day 2 – Thursday, 23 July 2026
08:30 – 09:30 | Registration & Welcome Tea
09:30 – 10:00 | Opening Keynote Address
The conference will open with a keynote address from senior Visionary Business or government leader
10:00 – 11:00 | Session 4: Direct-to-Device – From Pilot to Policy
Direct-to-device (D2D) connectivity is moving from trials to commercial reality. This session will examine the regulatory, technical, and spectrum-related challenges that must be addressed to enable scalable deployment in India. Key issues include interference management, device ecosystems, licensing models, and the integration of satellite-based D2D with terrestrial mobile networks.
11:00 – 11:15 | Networking Coffee Break
11:15 – 11:45 | Fireside Chat with High Level Visionary Speaker
Satellite communications play a vital role in bridging connectivity divides and supporting critical services. This session will examine use cases such as rural broadband, disaster management, and aeronautical and maritime communications, assessing what has worked, where gaps remain, and how policy and funding mechanisms can maximise societal impact.
11:45 – 13:00 | Session 5: Integrating Satellite into 5G – The Road to 6G
Non-terrestrial networks (NTNs) are emerging as a critical component of future connectivity architectures. This session will explore how satellite systems can be effectively integrated into 5G and future 6G networks, including standardisation efforts, spectrum needs, and policy enablers required to support seamless hybrid connectivity across India.
13:00 – 14:00 | Networking Lunch
14:00 – 15:30 | Session 6: Space Sustainability – From Principles to Enforcement
As satellite constellations expand, issues of orbital debris, space traffic management, and long-term sustainability are becoming urgent. This session will focus on global governance frameworks, enforcement challenges, and India’s role in shaping international norms to ensure safe, secure, and sustainable use of outer space.
15:30 – 16:30 | Session 7: India as a Global SatCom Hub
With its growing capabilities in manufacturing, launch services, and regulatory reform, India has the potential to emerge as a regional and global hub for satellite communications. This session will explore strategies to attract investment, scale domestic industry, and build international partnerships, while positioning India as a competitive exporter of space technologies and services.
16:30 – 17:00 | Closing Session: Key Takeaways & Way Forward
The conference will conclude with a synthesis of key insights, policy recommendations, and strategic priorities emerging from the discussions, outlining the path forward for India’s space and satellite communications ecosystem.

Presenting Partners

Platinum Partners
Gold Partner
Dinner Partner
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Sponsorship Opportunities

We have various speaking, sponsor, and wider visibility opportunities available at the event. Should you be interested in becoming involved at the India Space Policy Conference please contact Ms. Aarush Qureshi on / +91-9999797700

Venue & Accommodation

Venue

The Imperial New Delhi

Janpath Ln, Janpath, Connaught Place, New Delhi, Delhi 110001


Explore exclusive discounted rates for your stay at the conference hotel. Book early to secure the best deals and enjoy a comfortable experience during the event.