ITI Limited, the nation’s first public sector undertaking established after independence and a key player in telecom manufacturing, has been formally acknowledged by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for its contribution to the successful deployment of the NISAR satellite onboard GSLV-F16 on July 30, 2025. The company was commended for delivering avionics systems within strict timelines and meeting all quality benchmarks set by the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC).
The NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) satellite, a collaborative effort between NASA and ISRO, was launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota. Weighing 2,393 kg, the satellite was accurately placed into its designated orbit by the GSLV-F16 rocket. The mission marks a historic milestone, being the first Earth observation project jointly developed by India and the United States.
Among the several industry collaborators, ITI Limited’s Palakkad unit played a pivotal role by supplying 28 avionics and 18 HMSA (Head-end Mounted Safe Arm) packages that were integrated into the launch vehicle. VSSC has consistently relied on ITI Palakkad for critical avionics modules across multiple missions.
The satellite aims to monitor and analyze changes in the Earth’s surface with high precision, using dual-band radar systems, and is designed to capture and transmit data at high speeds. With a projected cost of USD 1.5 billion, NISAR stands among the most advanced and high-value Earth observation projects to date.
Rajesh Rai, Chairman and Managing Director of ITI Limited, stated “This recognition from ISRO is a proud moment for us. It reflects the advanced manufacturing capabilities of our team and the consistent quality that our Palakkad unit delivers. Over the years, we have supported several critical missions, including Chandrayaan, Mangalyaan, Aditya-L1, and the OneWeb launch. It is our privilege to continue contributing to India’s space ambitions, including upcoming missions such as Gaganyaan.”
Sheena Abraham, Group Director of the Electronics Production Group at ISRO’s Electronics Systems Actuators Entity (ESAE), added “The support of industry partners like ITI Palakkad has been vital to the realization of avionics systems in accordance with ISRO’s stringent standards. The successful execution of this mission is a testament to ITI’s commitment and technical competence. We anticipate further collaboration in upcoming ventures.”
Over time, ITI Limited has established itself as a dependable contributor to India’s space program, regularly supplying key components for ISRO’s launch vehicles. The organization has six modern manufacturing facilities across India—in Bengaluru, Naini, Raebareli, Mankapur, Srinagar, and Palakkad—and an in-house R&D center located in Bengaluru. Its nationwide presence also includes multiple marketing and project offices.
A leading supplier in the telecom sector, ITI provides a wide array of solutions in switching, transmission, and subscriber access systems. In addition to its core telecom operations, the company is active in defense manufacturing, smart infrastructure, Internet of Things (IoT), e-governance, and IT services.