Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN) – The government will sign an agreement with a US firm, Space Partner International (SPI), on Thursday to launch the country’s own satellite, Bangabandhu-1.
The deal will be signed at the office of Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), officials said.
The installation of the satellite will cost the country around US$ 350 million, a BTRC official said, adding that the satellite will benefit the country in two ways– from the perspective of foreign currency savings and earnings.
Currently, all television channels, radio, V-SAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) and internet service providers are using foreign satellites for their companies which cost the country a large amount of foreign currency.
Industry insiders said the country pays nearly $11 million a year for using foreign satellites. If the country gets its own satellite, it will be able to earn more than $50 million through renting unused portion to foreign companies.
The satellite-‘Bangabandhu-1’ will be sent at 102 degrees east in the orbit, according to the application for a slot by BTRC to International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
The satellite will have a 15- year life span and be able to recover the project cost within five years of its launching, they added.
Presently the all parts of the country are not well connected by submarine cable, that’s why some remote areas including hilly ones are out of internet network.
BBN/SSR/AD-29Mar12-8:20 am (BST)
