SES has opened a second office for its Chennai global capability centre (GCC), taking its local workforce to more than 600 employees as the satellite operator expands its India operations and prepares for a possible commercial entry into the country’s satellite communications market.
The new facility at DLF Cyber City Tech Campus will support engineering, technology, network and service operations, software development, cybersecurity, information technology, human resources and finance functions. The office was formally inaugurated on Tuesday by Xavier Bettel, Luxembourg’s deputy prime minister.
Luxembourg-based SES opened its first Chennai centre in April 2025. Over the past year, the company’s workforce in the city has tripled, with the employee base also including staff integrated from Intelsat, which has maintained a presence in Chennai for more than five years.
Adel Al-Saleh, chief executive of SES, said in a written note that the Chennai team had quickly become an integral part of the company’s worldwide network. The centre is intended to support SES’s global technical and business operations, including connectivity solutions for enterprises, telecommunications providers, aviation, maritime and media customers.
Vinod Khanna Sekhar, SES’s vice-president of operations and engineering and Chennai site leader, said the company’s decision to invest in a significantly larger facility reflected the performance of the Chennai operation and India’s role in the global space and technology ecosystem.
“The centre plays a key role in helping SES drive innovation and long-term growth,” Sekhar said. He described the facility as a strategic talent hub for engineering and technology, with Chennai-based teams contributing directly to SES’s international operations.
The expansion comes as SES moves towards a proposed commercial launch in India’s satellite communications market. The company has formed a joint venture with Jio Platforms called Orbit Connect India. The venture has secured approval from IN-SPACe but is awaiting the final regulatory approval from the Department of Telecommunications to begin operations.
Al-Saleh said SES remained confident that the regulatory framework needed to unlock the potential of satellite communications would continue to evolve. He also said the company would continue supporting broadcasters, government institutions and enterprises in India, alongside its telecommunications and connectivity activities.
SES’s Chennai expansion adds to the city’s role as a base for international technology and business operations. The company said the growth of India’s space sector was attracting investment and creating new opportunities for collaboration between established industry players. The next regulatory milestone for its India connectivity plans is the Department of Telecommunications’ decision on Orbit Connect India’s operating approval.
