A US federal appeals court has upheld a $1.2 billion arbitration award against Antrix Corporation, the commercial arm of India's space agency. The ruling stems from a controversial, long-cancelled satellite spectrum deal signed in 2005.
$1.2 billion
Judgment Amount
⏳ Time Machine
How today’s news fits into the bigger picture
2005
Contract Signed
Antrix signs a contract with Devas Multimedia to lease S-band satellite spectrum for mobile broadband.
2011
Agreement Cancelled
The Indian government cancels the contract, citing national security requirements for the spectrum.
2015
Devas Wins Arbitration
International Chamber of Commerce tribunal awards Devas $560 million plus interest for wrongful termination.
2022
Supreme Court Orders Winding Up
India’s Supreme Court upholds the winding up of Devas Multimedia on charges of fraud during its incorporation.
Today
US Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upholds the $1.2 billion arbitration judgment against India's Antrix Corporation.
What happens next?
Legal teams will clash in US district courts over the validity of India's domestic fraud findings against Devas.
A US federal appeals court has upheld a massive $1.2 billion judgment against Antrix Corporation, the commercial arm of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of Devas Multimedia, confirming a decade-old international arbitration award. The dispute dates back to 2005, when Antrix agreed to build and launch two satellites for Devas, leasing out valuable S-band electromagnetic spectrum. The Indian government abruptly cancelled the deal in 2011, citing national security reasons, which triggered a wave of global legal battles. While India has attempted to annul the award through domestic courts and fraud allegations, this latest US ruling keeps the multi-billion dollar liability active, complicating India's global space ambitions.
💭 If you're wondering…
Under international law, if a country refuses to pay an arbitration award, the winning party can ask foreign courts to freeze and seize commercial assets owned by that country's state enterprises within those foreign jurisdictions. This includes aircraft, real estate, and trade payments.
Did this story help?
Official sources
Knowledge Chain — tap a concept