Assam nears final partner selection for AssamSAT satellite network

Assam has reached the final stage of selecting a private partner to build and operate AssamSAT, India's first state-owned Earth observation satellite network, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced. Fourteen companies submitted proposals for the project. The constellation will include at least five synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites in low Earth orbit, providing near-continuous, all-weather imagery for flood monitoring, border security, and infrastructure development. The partner will be chosen under a DBLOTT model, with committees currently evaluating bids. The project, first proposed in the 2025-26 budget with IN-SPACe collaboration, aims to transform governance and inspire student satellite building. It follows a regional university's LACHIT-1 launch attempt and coincides with ISRO's new earth station in Tinsukia.