Bangladesh’s first geostationary communication satellite the Bangabandhu-1 is set to kick-off its transmission on Monday with live telecast of the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship.
“Bangabandhu-1 will go to transmission by broadcasting the SAFF championship games,” Bangladesh Communication Satellite Company Limited (BCSCL) Chairman Shahjahan Mahmood told Bangla Tribune.
Mahmood, however, termed this broadcast as “pre-test” for commercial operations while all previous tests required were completed successfully since the satellite took position into the orbit.
He, however, described the broadcast as a ‘test’ for commercial operations. “We have chosen to sports event to check how the satellite handles transmission of fast moving elements.”
Mahmood said that a successful trial will mean the launch of commercial transmission by late September or mid October.
“Following the test transmission, we will be able to pitch the buyers,” said the chief of BCSCL, which is responsible for operating the satellite.
He said Thales Alenia Space, the manufacturing company of the satellite, is yet to handover the control of the two ground stations – primary one in Gazipur and secondary one in Rangamati, to the BCSCL.
“We expect our engineers to take over the operation by the end of this month.”
The 12th edition of the SAFF Championship is the biennial international men’s football championship of South Asia organized by the SAFF and Bangladesh is hosting it from Sept 4 to 15.
Bangabandhu-I was successfully launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on May 11.
The Block 5 version of SpaceX Falcon 9 rockect lifted the satellite for the orbit located at 119.1 degree east and after ten days of launch, it took position in the desired location (orbital slot).
In 2015, Bangladesh cleared a project for its own satellite, followed by the signing of Tk 20 billion loan deal between the telecoms regulator and France-based Thales Group for buying the satellite systems.
The ‘Bangabandhu’ Satellite received the green light at a cabinet meeting in 2015. BTRC signed a loan deal worth Tk 20 billion with Thales Group to buy 'satellite systems.'
Last year, a Tk 4 billion loan deal with the HSBC was signed to send the satellite into orbit.
Expected to save the Tk 14 million Bangladesh now spends every year on renting foreign satellites, the Bangabandhu-1 will have 40 transponders.
Bangladesh will use 20 and rent out the rest.
The two ground stations for the satellite have been built at Gazipur’s Joydebpur and Rangamati’s Betbunia.The satellite has 15 years for mission life span while another three years for its design.
The satellite will offer video services for Direct-to-Home (DTH), e-learning, tele-medicine while voice service to cellular backhaul and disaster recovery, and data service for internet, SCADA, SOHO as well as business-to-business (VSAT).