In what could prove to be a big win for the government's Make in India push, Elon Musk-led SpaceX is planning to join hands with Indian companies to locally manufacture satellite communications equipment, including antenna systems and user terminal devices, reports Economic Times.
The development comes at a time when SpaceX is gearing to roll out its high-speed satellite broadband services in India next year. The company's director (market access with the Starlink program) Matt Botwin said, "SpaceX is excited to find ways to work together with the Indian industry for manufacturing products for its Starlink devices."
Botwin emphasised that SpaceX always looks for opportunities to maximise the efficiency of its (global) supply chain, and "is now looking forward to working with its partners in India to recognise those opportunities".
This gains significance as Botwin made the statement during his first official interaction with Telecom Secretary Anshu Prakash.
Botwin also said that SpaceX has been working with the Indian industrial sector for a long time, buying steel and steel-tubing for many of its rockets.