Saturn Satellite Networks Inc. (Saturn), a US Delaware Corporation that is building the world’s first space qualified small GEO satellite platform named Nationsat, has signed an exclusive agreement with India’s preeminent aerospace company, ANANTH Technologies Ltd., to form an Indian Joint Venture company (SaAn Satellite Networks India “SSNI”), subject to all regulatory approvals being received, to locally produce the Nationsat Satellite developed by Saturn in ANANTH’s satellite integration facilities in India. The Nationsat is based on the Novawurks (a unit of Saturn) Hyper Integrated Satlet (HISat), a GEO qualified satellite platform that is modular and scalable to any payload mission in any orbit or power requirements. With the emergence of the newly established Space Policy of India, SSNI will be one of the leading satellite technology companies which will develop commercial GEO satellites for Indian customers.
Since its inception in 1992, ANANTH Technologies Ltd., founded by Dr. Subba Rao Pavuluri has grown to be a leading aerospace and satellite company in India. ANANTH supports the growth of the Indian economy through leveraging aerospace technologies. Its offerings include the manufacture of critical aerospace systems and high-value geospatial services. ANANTH’s systems have been integral in over 65 launch vehicles and 90 spacecrafts built in India in close collaboration with the Indian Space Research Organization. Expertise, quality and focus have been the guiding principles at ANANTH, with its products and services internationally certified (AS 9100C & ISO 9001:2008) and recognized by their clients.
Tom Choi, the Executive Chairman of AirspaceIX and Saturn remarked, “The Joint Venture development with ANANTH Technologies accelerates the Nationsat program of Saturn where our goals are to deliver the most advanced, flexible and cost optimized, small GEO satellite platform in the world. By leveraging on the unique capabilities of ANANTH Technologies in AIT and launch integration, as well as its leading R&D capabilities, we hope to make a unique version of the Nationsat which can launch on the Indian PSLV rocket, as well as other global launch vehicles. We look forward to serving the exciting and fast-growing telecommunications market of India where we believe significant demand exists for the foreseeable future. The new Space Policy of India allows room for commercial manufacturers and operators to serve the significant and growing demand for satellite communications in India. We look forward to working with ANANTH to make the most cost competitive and reliable satellite communications systems. I am extremely thankful for Dr. Subba Rao for agreeing to the Joint Venture with Saturn. We both share the ambition of making affordable space communications services a reality in India.”
Dr. Subba Rao, the Founder and MD of ANANTH states “It is indeed a great privilege for us to be collaborating with Saturn Satellite Networks (SSN), founded by the visionary and most decorated leader of Satcom industry Mr. Tom Choi and his team of veteran satellite technologists and business, globally. While this partnership is a major milestone for ANANTH in its own journey; we believe, the Joint Venture will make most significant contributions to India’s space sector in the coming days, assisting country’s vision of an Atma Nirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India), and further, to goals of Make-in India, for India and markets beyond.
ANANTH’s Satellite Assembly Integration and Test (AIT) facility is the first of its kind in the Indian private sector. Complete satellite integration can be done in this facility with the satellite having to leave the facility only for launch. Additionally, this facility has labs for manufacturing space qualified subsystems”.