BS-I commercial services to be inaugurated Wednesday

Dhaka, Sunday 29 September 2019

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BS-I commercial services to be inaugurated Wednesday  Staff Correspondent  daily-bangladesh.com  Published : 11:52 AM, 29 September 2019 Sunday |  Updated: 01:50 PM, 29 September 2019 Sunday

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All local television channels would start their full-fledged transmission using the feed of country’s first communication satellite Bangabandhu-I (BS-I) on October 2.

Bangladesh Communication Satellite Company Limited (BCSCL) Chairman Dr. Shahjahan Mahmood on Saturday said that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to open form BS-I commercial services to all 34 TV channels on October 2.

Currently, most of the local TV channels have been running successfully their transmission through BS-I, he said, adding, “We have already sold 40 percent capacity of BS-I and ex the remaining capacity in the coming days.”

Replying to a query, the BCSCL Chairman hoped they could able to earn the entire amount spent for the launching of BS-I from the domestic market within eight years.

Earlier on May 19, BCSCL signed a formal agreement with six local TVs - Somoy TV, Jamuna TV, Deepto TV, Bijoy TV, Bangla TV and MY TV for the use of BS-I. In addition, four ch the state-owned BTV has been running operation through the feed of BS-I. BCSCL o cials said the draft of the agreement between TVs and BCSCL has been nalized.

All the TVs for their transmission would require the capacities of ve transponders of the BS-I. Besides, the local D2H Akash of BEXIMCO has rented six transponders.

On August 28, a delegation of the Association of Television Channel Owners (ATCO) called on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her O ce.

They said they have been working sincerely with the authorities concerned to start complete transmission of all the private television channels through the BS-1 on October-2.

Besides, the BCSCL has connected all TV channels through ber optic cable with its ground station instead of installing earth station to minimize the cost of TV channels’ owner.

French manufacturer Thales Alenia Space in November last year handed over the controlling authority of BS-I to BCSCL, which was launched by the SpaceX on May 12, 2018, from the orbit.

The rst trial broadcast of BS-I has been successfully done through airing the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship 2018.

In addition, BCSCL has hired international consultancy rm Thaicom for two years to run marketing and sale of the connectivity of BS-I in six countries, including four neighbours. rm is currently active in around 20 countries.

Thales launched the BS-I at a cost of Taka 2,765 crore and according to the plan, it will reach break-even point within seven years of starting its commercial service.

Located at the 119.1 east geostationary slot, BS-I would cover the SAARC countries and Indonesia, the Philippines, Myanmar, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkestan and a p Kazakhstan.

The coverage is the strongest in Indonesia, the Philippines, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bhutan, for which these six countries have initially been chosen for the business.

The satellite’s operations include “direct-to-home” service for TV channels, VSAT (very small aperture terminal), backhaul and network restoration, disaster preparedness and relie others.

DailyBangladesh/Nishi