DHAKA, Sept 4, 2019 (BSS) – 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 1.
“Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to open formally the BS-I services to all 34 TV channels on October 1,” Bangladesh Communication Satellite Company Limited (BCSCL) Chairman Dr Shahjahan Mahmood said today.
He said currently the local TV channels have been running successfully their transmission through BS-I while additional 15 TVs would join them soon.
“We have already sold 40 percent capacity of BS-I and expect to sell the remaining capacity in the coming days,” added Dr Mahmood.
Meanwhile, a delegation of the Association of Television Channel Owners (ATCO) called on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her Office on August 28.
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-1.
Besides, the BCSCL has connected all TV channels through fiber 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 Florida to the orbit.
The first 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 firm Thaicom for two years to run marketing and sale of the connectivity of BS-I in six countries, including four neighbours. The Thai firm 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 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.