‘Bangabandhu satellite to save $ 14m rental cost annually’
Prime minister Sheikh Hasina today said as much as $14 million would be saved annually as rental cost for foreign satellites side by side with scopes for foreign currency income after launching the Bangabandhu satellite-1.
“The Bangabandhu satellite-1 would ensure uninterrupted telecommunications and transmission in land and maritime area across the country,” she said while replying to a question from treasury bench member M Monirul Islam of Jessore-2 in the Jatiya Sangsad.
Sheikh Hasina said the Bangabandhu satellite-1, after its launch on December 16, 2017, would create jobs by expanding satellite technology and services, adding, “The Bangabandhu satellite-1 would have 40 transponders of which 20 for Bangladesh and 20 would be used outside of the country.”
The 20 transponders of the Bangabandhu satellite-1 would be dedicated for earning foreign currency by leasing out especially for the neighbouring countries along with several middle-eastern countries, she informed the House.
The Prime Minister said Bangladesh would be able to provide services of telecommunications and transmission, telemedicine, e-learning, e-education and Direct To Home (DTH) etc through the Bangabandhu satellite-1.
The Bangabandhu satellite-1 would ensure smooth communications across the country in the case of any damage to the terrestrial structure during natural disasters. It would also ensure environment friendly e-service, she added.
Sheikh Hasina said the Bangabandhu satellite-1 would play a significant role in building a dignified nation with space technology. The government is to launch the Bangabandhu satellite-1 on December 16, 2017 to the space, which would take two weeks to reach its destination of the orbiter slat 119.1 degree east longitude, she said.
The Prime Minister said the Bangabandhu satellite-1 would also take three months to In-Orbit Test (IOT) after launching successfully, adding, “It would begin commercial activities fully in April, 2018 after Testing Missioning.”
She also said that the government has a plan to launch another two satellites including the Bangabandhu satellite-2 and the Bangabandhu satellite-3 in phases after launching the Bangabandhu satellite-1 successfully.