All local television channels would start their full-fledged transmission using the feed of country’s first communication satellite Bangabandhu-I on October 2.
Bangladesh Communication Satellite Company Limited (BCSCL) Chairman Dr Shahjahan Mahmood informed that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to open formally the commercial services of the satellite to all 34 TV channels on October 2, reports BSS.
He said currently most of the local TV channels have been running successfully their transmission through the satellite.
“We have already sold 40 per cent capacity of the satellite and expect to sell the remaining capacity in the coming days,” added Dr Mahmood.
Replying to a query, the BCSCL Chairman said they are expecting to earn the entire amount spent for the launching of satellite from the domestic market within eight years.
Earlier on May 19, BCSCL signed formal agreement with six local TVs -Somoy TV, Jamuna TV, Deepto TV, Bijoy TV, Bangla TV and MY TV for the use of satellite.
In addition, four channels of the state-owned BTV has been running operation through the feed of the satellite.
BCSCL officials said the draft of the agreement between TVs and BCSCL has been finalised.
All the TVs for their transmission would require the capacities of five transponders of the satellite. 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 Office.
They said they have been working sincerely with the authorities concerned to start complete transmission of all the private television channels through the satellite on October-2.
Besides, the BCSCL has connected all TV channels through fiber optic cable with its ground station instead of installing earth station to minimise the cost of TV channels’ owner.
French manufacturer Thales Alenia Space in November last year handed over the controlling authority of the satellite to BCSCL, which was launched by the SpaceX on May 12, 2018 from Florida to the orbit.
The first trial broadcast of the satellite was successfully done through airing the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship 2018.
In addition, BCSCL has hired international consultancy firm Thaicom for two years to run marketing and sale of the connectivity of the satellite in six countries, including four neighbours. The Thai firm is currently active in around 20 countries.
Thales launched the Bangabandhu-I at a cost of Taka 27.65 billion 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, the satellite would cover the SAARC countries and Indonesia, the Philippines, Myanmar, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkestan and a part of 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 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 relief and many others.
