SOURCE: AFI
In a bold step into the burgeoning space technology sector, Infosys, one of India’s leading IT services giants, has emerged as a contender to build and launch a ?1,500 crore Earth Observation (EO) satellite constellation project. This ambitious initiative, spearheaded by the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe), aims to enhance India’s space-based surveillance capabilities through a public-private partnership (PPP) model, marking a significant milestone in the country’s efforts to bolster its geospatial infrastructure and reduce reliance on foreign satellite data.
The project, valued at approximately $173 million USD, involves designing, constructing, launching, and operating a constellation of EO satellites equipped with advanced imaging technologies, including achromatic, multispectral, hyperspectral, and microwave systems. These satellites will provide high-resolution imagery and data critical for applications ranging from agriculture and disaster management to national security and environmental monitoring. Infosys is part of a consortium shortlisted by IN-SPACe, which includes six teams vying for the contract. While the full composition of Infosys’s consortium remains partially undisclosed, it is known to include GalaxEye Space—a Bengaluru-based startup focused on multi-sensor satellites—and an engineering research and development firm.
The selection process, which began with an Expression of Interest (EOI) in July 2024, saw 30 entities—representing nine consortia—submit bids by December. IN-SPACe has since narrowed the field to six, issuing a draft Request for Proposal (RFP) earlier this month. The shortlisted teams, including Infosys, must submit detailed financial and operational plans by March 31, 2025, after which a single winner will be chosen. The government will support the winning consortium with up to ?350 crore in loans, repayable over the constellation’s operational life, with the remainder of the funding sourced from private investment.
Infosys’s entry into this high-stakes project reflects its strategic diversification beyond traditional IT services into the rapidly growing space technology domain. The company’s recent $2 million investment in GalaxEye through its Infosys Innovation Fund in September 2024 laid the groundwork for this bid. GalaxEye, incubated at IIT-Madras, is developing the world’s first multi-sensor EO satellite, integrating synthetic aperture radar and multispectral sensors for advanced data fusion—an expertise that complements Infosys’s strengths in AI, analytics, and digital innovation. “The downstream applications of space technology and datasets powered by AI present a potential for data-driven decisions across multiple industries,” Infosys noted during its GalaxEye investment announcement, signaling its intent to leverage space-based data for commercial and strategic gains.
The EO constellation project aligns with India’s broader push to expand its space economy, currently valued at $8.4 billion, with ambitions to reach $45 billion by 2035. Traditionally dominated by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), India’s space sector is now opening to private players, spurred by reforms like the liberalization of foreign direct investment and a ?1,000 crore venture capital fund announced in the 2024 Union Budget. The IN-SPACe initiative is a cornerstone of this shift, tasking private consortia with end-to-end responsibilities—from satellite design and launch (using Indian launch vehicles) to data processing and health monitoring of the spacecraft.
For Infosys, winning this bid could catapult it into a leadership role in India’s private space industry. The project’s scope offers access to vast geospatial datasets, a goldmine for applications in agriculture, urban planning, and defence—sectors where Infosys’s expertise in data analytics and software solutions could shine. Competitors in the race include formidable consortia featuring space startups like SatSure, Pixxel, and Dhruva Space, alongside established players such as Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL), Tata Advanced Systems, and Ananth Technologies, making the contest fiercely competitive.
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