INSAT 3B launch expected to boost communications

NEW DELHI: INSAT 3B, which has been successfully launched from Kourou in French Guyana, is expected to boost communications in the country. Primarily aimed at business, developmental and mobile communication facilities, the satellite is the first in the third generation of satellites. It has 16 transponders out of which twelve will be in the extended C band, three in Ku band, and one in the S band.

Besides easing the demand for bandwidth, INSAT 3B is expected to usher in a new dimension in heath-care and education. Tele-medicine and distant education are expected to take off in a major way. People in remote places will be able to consult super-specialists and get better diagnostics in real-time. The enhanced capacity for education and literacy programmes will benefit rural masses besides providing greater opportunities for higher education.

The VSAT industry, which has suffered due to lack of bandwidth, is expected to be the major beneficiary and will be given a new spurt of life. Till now, VSAT service providers have been operating on Extended C band transponders and the industry has been clamoring for space on the Ku band frequency as well. Recently, the government had allowed VSAT service providers the use of Ku band frequency and has also assured space on both the Extended C band and Ku band transponders.

While allowing the use Ku band frequency, the government also stated that the available space in indigenous satellites would have to be exhausted first. VSAT users in the banking and financial sectors, stock market, fast moving consumer goods sector and medium to heavy engineering companies will benefit from the increased bandwidth availability. However, the industry will have to wait for at least six weeks before the satellites become operational. With the INSAT 3B launch, transponder availability will stand at 85 as against the current need for around 90-100 transponders. The satellite, which has a life span of 12 years, cost ISRO Rs 200 crore to manufacture, Rs 276 crore to launch and Rs 66 crore to insure.