Infosys Reportedly Eyes Geospatial Market With Bid For India’s Private Satellite Program

Insider Brief

• Infosys is reportedly bidding for a government-backed satellite project, marking its first major step into India’s space technology sector.
• A consortium including Infosys, GalaxEye, and an undisclosed firm is among six private teams shortlisted by IN-SPACe for a ₹1,500 crore ($173.13 million) satellite constellation project.
• The project follows a public-private partnership model, with the winning team designing, building, and operating the satellite network while leveraging geospatial data for commercial applications.

Infosys, India’s second-largest IT services firm, is making a strategic push into the country’s space technology sector by bidding for a government-backed satellite project, according to the Hindu Businessline.

A consortium including Infosys, space tech startup GalaxEye, and an undisclosed engineering research and development firm is among six private teams shortlisted by the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe) for a satellite constellation project valued at ₹1,500 crore — about $173.13 million USD, according to sources. The competition marks Infosys’ first major foray into the geospatial industry, an area traditionally dominated by state-owned Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

“Six applicants have been shortlisted through EOI process. A draft RfP has been issued to the shortlisted applicants. The final RfP will be issued in the second half of the month,” IN-SPACe said, according to Hindu Businessline, declining to disclose the names of the selected teams.

The shortlisted teams must submit detailed financial and operational plans by March 31, after which IN-SPACe will select one team to execute the project.

If selected, Infosys and its partners will take charge of designing, building and operating a satellite constellation. Unlike traditional government contracts where ISRO spearheads space initiatives, this project follows a public-private partnership (PPP) model, shifting responsibilities to the private sector while the government provides financial support.

“The interesting thing about the program is that the government will merely extend financial support and it wants the private sector to manage end-to-end design, building and operating the satellite constellation. It is a big boost to the winning team in terms of the scale of geospatial data they will have access to once their satellites are up,” a space sector executive told Businessline.

Geospatial data plays a critical role in government planning, disaster management, agriculture, and defense applications. The project would enable Infosys to monetize space data and related services, expanding its footprint in the global geospatial market. Experts say this could help Infosys leverage satellite data for clients looking to enhance their data-driven decision-making.

Other major industry players in the competition reportedly include consortiums led by Tata Advanced Systems, Centum, Ananth Technologies, and space tech startups such as SatSure, Pixxel, Dhruva Space, and PierSight, among others. However, Infosys stands out as the only IT services firm vying for a stake in India’s expanding private space economy.

The bid aligns with Infosys’ recent investment in the space technology sector. In September 2024, the company, through its Infosys Innovation Fund, invested approximately $2 million (₹17 crore) for a minority stake in GalaxEye, one of its partners in the satellite bid. The startup, incubated at IIT-Madras and now based in Bengaluru, is developing multi-sensor satellites aimed at improving geospatial imaging.

“The downstream applications of space technology and the datasets powered by AI and analytics presents a potential of data-driven decisions spanning multiple industries,” Infosys said in a statement at the time of its investment in GalaxEye.

GalaxEye Co-Founder and CEO Suyash Singh confirmed his company is working on its bid submission. “We have received the RFP, and are working on it. We look forward to how this opportunity evolves for us and the ecosystem at large,” Singh said, according to Businessline. The company declined to disclose the names of other partners in its consortium.

Infosys did not respond to Hindu Businessline’s queries at the time of publication.

India’s private space sector has grown rapidly since the government opened the industry to private players in 2020, allowing startups and corporations to participate in satellite launches, manufacturing, and space-based services. The country’s space economy could reach $13 billion by 2025, according to a 2023 report from Invest India and IN-SPACe, driven by increased commercialization and rising demand for geospatial intelligence.

The IN-SPACe project is part of a broader push to integrate private players into India’s space infrastructure, with companies now able to operate their own satellites and generate revenue through space-based services. The selected consortium will be responsible for end-to-end operations, including satellite design, launch, maintenance, and data processing. The project’s Earth Observation satellites are expected to provide valuable insights for sectors such as agriculture, urban planning, and national security.

For Infosys, this venture represents a strategic diversification beyond its core IT services business. As global demand for high-resolution geospatial data grows, IT firms are exploring new avenues in analytics, AI-driven insights, and data monetization. By positioning itself as a key player in the geospatial intelligence sector, Infosys is signaling its intent to leverage space-based technologies to enhance its digital services portfolio.