DHAKA: A total of 20 countries, including USA, Russia, France and Australia raised objections regarding Bangabandhu satellite as Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (BTRC) applied for approval to send the satellite in 102 degree slot.
BTRC sources said Bangladesh has already applied to ITU (International Telecommunications Union) to send Bangabandhu satellite for 102 degree slot.
Just after submission of this application the countries raised objections saying if Bangladesh launches satellite in 102 degree slot they may face problem to get frequency properly.
Requesting anonymity an officer of BTRC told banglanews that Bangladesh is trying to get slot in 102 degree as Space Partnership International (SPI) is working as consultancy firm hailed from USA.
BTRC will coordinate through SPI so that both parties could be benefited. But, ITU will give final decision regarding slot distribution.
He said Bangladesh has alternative plan to send satellite in 69 degree east slot if it doesn’t get slot in 102 degree orbit. In this case, ITU will select the slot which would be excellent for Bangladesh.
If Bangladesh applied for 69 degree slot, Malaysia, Singapore, China might be raised objections.
BTRC Chairman Major General Zia Ahmed said, “We have applied for 102 degree slot and we are waiting for ITU approval.”
In the meantime, BTRC plans to form company to operate Bangabandhu satellite as it couldn’t operate it as a regulatory body.
The project would cost Tk 3,000 crore whereas SPI would provide Tk 90 crore.
The country has to spend 11-million US dollar every year for using satellite as the domestic satellite television channels, telephone, radio are renting satellite facilities from other countries.
If Bangladesh can successfully send the satellite, it will earn $50 million dollar through renting the unused portion every year. Neighbor countries like Nepal, Bhutan, and Myanmar may our buyers.
BTRC experts said the submarine cable network is yet to be available in all upazilas and districts of the country, including haur, baur, hills and islands of Sylhet and Chittagong divisions. But, the satellite is the only way to make the internet available in those areas.
It also will ensure uninterrupted telecommunication inside the country as well as rest of the world and meteorological data for disaster warnings.
On November 7, 2010, Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (BTRC) placed a proposal on launching country’s maiden satellite ‘Bangabandhu-1’ into the space in a meeting of the ministers concerned.
On November 9 in 2010, Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (BTRC) invited international tender in search of global satellite experts for the launch of country’s maiden satellite ‘Bangabandhu-1’ into the space.
A deal between Bangladesh Telecommunication Regularity Commission (BTRC) and American consulting firm Space Partnership International (SPI) was signed for sending ‘Bangabandhu’ in the space on March 29 this year.
BDST: 2142 HRS, APRIL 16, 2012
Edited by:
Mohammed Humayun Kabir, Sr Newsroom Editor
Maria Salam, Asst Output Editor
M. Mahbub Alam, Asst Output Editor
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