Hong Kong-based satellite operator AsiaSat has issued notices to the Indian government and its local customers, including broadcasters like JioStar and Zee, alleging breaches of existing contracts, according to sources familiar with the matter.
The action comes after India’s space regulator, IN‑SPACe, decided not to allow AsiaSat and other Chinese-owned satellite operators to continue providing services in the country beyond March 31, citing national security concerns.
One source, who requested anonymity, said AsiaSat sent a “trigger notice” under a bilateral investment treaty to the government, including the Department of Space, citing contract violations. A trigger notice is an official warning that initiates formal dispute resolution or penalties.
AsiaSat has been supplying satellite capacity to Indian broadcasters for 33 years. To address regulatory concerns over its Chinese ownership, it had previously offered to appoint an Indian independent director and give greater control to its local partner.
IN‑SPACe is reportedly reviewing the situation following the notices. Broadcasters, however, say arbitration claims from AsiaSat are unlikely to hold, since the company will lose permission to operate in India after March 31. As a result, they must shift to other satellite providers. Some industry executives added that force majeure provisions protect Indian companies in this scenario.
Another executive noted that AsiaSat claims its contracts are not India-specific, so the bandwidth could legally be used elsewhere. Attempts to reach AsiaSat, IN‑SPACe, the Department of Space, JioStar, and Zee had not received responses by press time.
AsiaSat had reapplied for IN‑SPACe authorization in November 2025 after an earlier application was denied. Its current permission expires at the end of March, forcing broadcasters to migrate to other satellites or face channel blackouts.
Industry insiders describe AsiaSat’s move as “desperate,” emphasizing the need for broadcasters to coordinate and involve regulators if needed. AsiaSat, however, maintains that its customers remain contractually bound, even if services must be moved to other satellites.
Local broadcasters, including Zee and JioStar, have started transitioning to satellites such as India’s GSAT and Intelsat. Global channels like BBC, CNN, Al Jazeera, and Bloomberg, which broadcast in India via AsiaSat, will also need to switch to continue operations.
To resume services in India, AsiaSat and its authorized partner, Inorbit Space, have proposed bringing in additional foreign investment and offering high-speed data transmission accessible only through a gateway in India.
Regarding ownership concerns, AsiaSat disclosed that US private equity firm Carlyle Group holds 49.5% and Hong Kong’s CITIC Ltd 50.5%, with both controlling 50% of voting rights.
