UNB, Dhaka :
The government has worked out a plan to complete the tender procedure of the country’s first-ever satellite, ‘Bangabandhu Satellite-1’, by September next aiming to launch it by December 2017 for improving the country’s IT services.
According to a document, the government has decided to hold the pre-bid meeting by April 20 next.
“On completion of all the procedures, it’ll be possible to sign the deal with the main contractor by September this year,” the official document says.
If the approval from all levels comes at the right time it can be hoped that the ‘Bangabandhu Satellite-1’ would be able to launch in its orbital by December 2017.
The government, meanwhile, has floated the international tender in this regard. The last date for submission of the tender is June 2.
On September 16, 2014, the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) approved the ‘Bangabandhu Satellite Launching Project’ and the government promulgated an order in this connection on November 25 the same year.
Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has inked an
agreement with Russian INTERSPUTNIK International Organisation of Space Communications on January 15 this year to acquire orbital slot for the next 15 years.
The duration of the deal for the slot in the 119.1 east longitude is extendable up to 45 years.
According to the official sources, the government is likely to spend $36 million to procure the orbital slot needed for the launch of the satellite. The slot was rated as the best option for the satellite by the project’s consultant, Space Partnership International, a US company.
There is a scope to launch three satellites in a row from the slot and it will be possible to provide quality services to Bangladesh and other countries in the region through it.
“If the second and the third satellites are not launched in the future, the country can earn revenue by leasing out or selling the remaining frequency to other countries,” said an official involved in the project.
At present, the country’s demand for a satellite is met by renting bandwidth from different satellite operators. The cost for this services is not less than US$ 17 million per year. Once the satellite is launched, the country will be able to save foreign currency, the official said.
Ecnec has allocated Tk 2,967 crore for the Bangabandhu Satellite Project. Of the amount, Tk 1,652 crore will come from aid, while the remaining to be raised through bidder finance.
A satellite will be built and a ground station set up for launching it under the project. An authority will also be formed for the maintenance of the satellite.
At present, telecommunications and broadcast services are provided through hiring bandwidths from overseas satellite operators.
The satellite will minimise the digital divide as it would take broadcasting and telecoms services to the most rural of areas and introduce profitable and promising services such as Direct to Home throughout the country, as per the proposal.
The government has worked out a plan to complete the tender procedure of the country’s first-ever satellite, ‘Bangabandhu Satellite-1’, by September next aiming to launch it by December 2017 for improving the country’s IT services.
According to a document, the government has decided to hold the pre-bid meeting by April 20 next.
“On completion of all the procedures, it’ll be possible to sign the deal with the main contractor by September this year,” the official document says.
If the approval from all levels comes at the right time it can be hoped that the ‘Bangabandhu Satellite-1’ would be able to launch in its orbital by December 2017.
The government, meanwhile, has floated the international tender in this regard. The last date for submission of the tender is June 2.
On September 16, 2014, the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) approved the ‘Bangabandhu Satellite Launching Project’ and the government promulgated an order in this connection on November 25 the same year.
Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has inked an
agreement with Russian INTERSPUTNIK International Organisation of Space Communications on January 15 this year to acquire orbital slot for the next 15 years.
The duration of the deal for the slot in the 119.1 east longitude is extendable up to 45 years.
According to the official sources, the government is likely to spend $36 million to procure the orbital slot needed for the launch of the satellite. The slot was rated as the best option for the satellite by the project’s consultant, Space Partnership International, a US company.
There is a scope to launch three satellites in a row from the slot and it will be possible to provide quality services to Bangladesh and other countries in the region through it.
“If the second and the third satellites are not launched in the future, the country can earn revenue by leasing out or selling the remaining frequency to other countries,” said an official involved in the project.
At present, the country’s demand for a satellite is met by renting bandwidth from different satellite operators. The cost for this services is not less than US$ 17 million per year. Once the satellite is launched, the country will be able to save foreign currency, the official said.
Ecnec has allocated Tk 2,967 crore for the Bangabandhu Satellite Project. Of the amount, Tk 1,652 crore will come from aid, while the remaining to be raised through bidder finance.
A satellite will be built and a ground station set up for launching it under the project. An authority will also be formed for the maintenance of the satellite.
At present, telecommunications and broadcast services are provided through hiring bandwidths from overseas satellite operators.
The satellite will minimise the digital divide as it would take broadcasting and telecoms services to the most rural of areas and introduce profitable and promising services such as Direct to Home throughout the country, as per the proposal.
