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Insat-2D ushers in era of telecom self-sufficiency

Insat-2D has 23 transponders on it to provide quality television and telephone services. When all the five Insat-2 series satellites are in orbit, with Insat-2E expected to go up early next year, India should have enough transponders to lease to private and government agencies. Already, Intelsat has booked transponders on the Insat-2E.

Indian Space Research Organisation Chairman Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan said the Insat-2D was a a major step in augmenting India's telecommunication and mobile telephone services.

Insat-2D has a transponder dedicated to mobile satellite service that will enable the Department of Telecommunications to offer mobile telephone services throughout the Indian subcontinent by the end of July. This is far better than a comparable service provided by Inmarsat.

The MSS will help transmit voice calls, fax and other information throughout India to anyone armed with a small terminal, the size of a suitcase.

Another transponder, for broadcast satellite service, will transmit television images and sound to production centres.

Doordarshan will get wider coverage with better quality throughout south east Asia and the Middle East through the six extended C-band transponders.

A few extended C-band terminals will support very small aperture terminals and provide communication support to remote areas. It will also help companies set up intranets and link up their branches across the country without depending on the department of communications.

But most companies involved will be public sector firms like the Indian Telephone Industries, the Oil and Natural Gas Commission, the National Thermal Power Corporation, the Gas Authority of India Limited, the Nuclear Power Corporation, and the National Stock Exchange.

- Compiled from the Indian media

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