REGULATORY · MARKET STRUCTURE · INDIA
AsiaSat serves trigger notices to Indian government and customers
Change
AsiaSat served notices to the Indian government and to customers, including broadcasters such as JioStar and Zee, alleging violations of existing contracts.
Why it matters
AsiaSat delivered notices to the Indian government and to customers including broadcasters such as JioStar and Zee, alleging breaches of existing contracts. One notice is a 'trigger notice' invoking a bilateral investment treaty and was sent to the Department of Space. IN‑SPACe decided Chinese‑owned satellite players will not be allowed to continue services in India after March 31, and broadcasters using AsiaSat will have to switch or will not be allowed to be telecast in India from April 1. Broadcasters and teleport operators have begun migrating capacity to satellites such as India's GSAT and Intelsat; global news channels including BBC, CNN, Al Jazeera and Bloomberg currently broadcast in India using AsiaSat.
Implications
- · Initiation of a bilateral investment‑treaty dispute process against the government and contractual counterparties.
- · Broadcasters using AsiaSat face a requirement to secure alternative satellite capacity or cease telecasting in India from April 1.
- · Teleport operators have begun migrating capacity to alternative satellites such as GSAT and Intelsat.
Who is affected
- · Department of Space
- · Commercial broadcasters and news channels
- · Teleport operators
- · Satellite operator (AsiaSat)
What to watch
- · March 31 — cutoff date after which Chinese‑owned satellite operators are not allowed to continue services in India
- · April 1 — date from which broadcasters using AsiaSat will not be allowed to be telecast in India unless switched
Source
Topics
World & Politics Policy & Regulation Security & Defense Law & Public Safety Regulatory Actions