India puts GSAT-8 in orbit,will improve DTH services

With this,the total number of transponders available under INSAT and GSAT communication systems will go up to 175,which is still short of the projected requirement of 211. ISRO has leased 86.5 transponders from foreign satellites to meet Indias communication needs.

ISRO chief Dr K Radhakrishna,however,said they are planning to add 150 more transponders in the next two years,subject to availability of space parking slots.

Lack of parking space,sources said,was one of the biggest hindrances in increasing transponder capacities,apart from recent setbacks to the indigenous GSLV satellite launch programme. Finding orbit slots involves a long negotiation process under an UN like body called the International Telecommunications Union,which allocates slots to countries, an ISRO official said.

The 3,100 kg,Rs 600 crore GSAT-8 is a high-power communication satellite configured to carry 24 transponders in Ku-band and a two-channel GPS Aided Geo Augmented Navigation GAGAN payload. GSAT-8 will be the ninth Indian communication satellite in space.

The 24 Ku-bad transponders will service the communication needs of direct-to-home television operators,and the GAGAN,which improves the accuracy of GPS systems,will be used by the Airports Authority of India.

ISRO will lease the transponders to DTH operators for Rs 25 crore each,through its commercial arm,Antrix Corporation,sources said. The downstream profits of DTH operators on these leased transponders will be more than 10 times the lease price, an ISRO scientist said.