New Satcom Policy to be implemented soon

BANGALORE: Dr K Kasturirangan, Secretary, Department of Space, said that

final touches were being given to the rules framed for implementation of the new

Satellite Communication (Satcom) policy, allowing the operation of private

Indian satellites. Inaugurating the second VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminals)

and Internet India 2000 conference and exhibition at Bangalore, Dr Kasturirangan

said, "The recently announced Satcom policy envisages a greater role for

private sector in the crucial communication infrastructure and identifies the

use of INSAT’s capabilities for the private sector. It also enabled the

private sector to own satellites." Dr Kasturirangan, who is also the

Chairman of Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), said his organization

would take into account the space segment requirement of the private sector in

defining future INSAT spacecraft. Apart from this, he invited inputs from the

private sector for development of futuristic systems. We obviously expect a firm

financial commitment to back up the demands, he added. "If the required

capacity was not available during the time scale specified by the user, it was

possible to lease the capacity as an interim measure with funding from the user.

Such a scheme would lead to a structured growth of this nascent industry,

utilize the indigenous capabilities and meet the user demands maximally,"

he added.

Dismissing apprehensions that satellite technology will be obsolete, Dr

Kasturirangan said the IT revolution had brought about a greater demand for

transponders. It is heartening to note that all the transponders of INSAT-3A

launched earlier this year have been completely allotted, both in extended C

band and Ku band. Dr Kasturirangan stated that ISRO has plans to add more than

50 transponders next year through the launch of INSAT 3C by the middle of next

year and INSAT 3A by the end of next year. "In the first phase, 33

transponders would be placed in the orbit with the launch of INSAT 3-C satellite

by the middle of next year, and the remaining 21 transponders would be deployed

by the end of 2001, or the beginning of 2002 when INSAT-3A satellite would be

fired into the space. Of the 33 transponders, 24 of them will be in C band, 6 in

extended C band, 2 in S band, and one transponder will be dedicated for mobile

satellite services. INSAT-3A will have 12 C band, 6 extended C band, and 3 Ku

band of 72MHz. It will also carry a met payload for data relay."

In order to augment its services, ISRO has also hired 7 transponders on lease

from Thaicom. "The Ninth Five-Year Plan has made a budgetary allocation of

Rs 20 billion for the launch of Satcom services by ISRO, and the entire funds

are being used, which includes the cost of the launch vehicles paid to Ariane

space agency," Dr Kasturirangan claimed.

Speaking about the VSAT industry, he said that it was all set to become the

workhorse technology for the telecom revolution with over 10,000 terminals.

VSATs were being used not only for commercial purposes but also for

developmental programs in education, tele-medicine and e-governance. He said his

department and Karnataka have evolved a joint program in tele-medicine,

providing medical help to people in M M Hills from Bangalore. He also referred

to the success of the Jabua community development program in Madhya Pradesh

using VSATs. On the policy initiatives and rationalization of regulatory

mechanisms of the Center, he said allowing Ku band operation for the VSAT

industry was an important step and called for strict adherence to specifications

for the smooth working of the system.

Satellite technologies with their inherent strength in allowing broadband

application and also thin route traffic in the same network would be a boon for

Information Technology services. It was predicted that satellite based solutions

would capture 30 per cent of the market share in broadband technologies, Dr

Kasturirangan said.