MUMBAI: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) aims to hand over Insat 4A’s 12 Ku-band transponders to Tata Sky on 1 February. It is in the process of bringing the satellite to the right polarisation position.
“We should be able to hand over the Ku-band transponders to Tata Sky on 1 February. Fine tuning of the ground antenna to match the correct polarisation is going on. This is a routine exercise as there are already a set of users at 83 degree East,” said Isro contract management and legal services director SB Iyer.
Tata Sky, the 80:20 joint venture between the Tata Group and Star India, plans to launch its direct-to-home (DTH) service in May-June. Speaking on the progress of the launch plans, Tata Sky CEO Vikram Kaushik said it was as per schedule. “We will do extensive testing after the transponders are handed over to us. Our launch plans are on track,” he added.
Along with the Ku-band transponders, the 12 C-band transponders will also be activated, Iyer said. As already reported by Indiantelevision.com, Private teleport operators Essel Shyam, Noida Software Technology Park (NSTP) and Lamhas have booked Insat 4A’s C-band transponders to facilitate transmission on multiple channels per carrier (MCPC) mode.
Among the other takers are Kerala’s Malayala Manorama and news channel Indiavision. While Manorama has booked half a transponder, Indiavision has gone for a quarter.
According to Iyer, Indiavision will be using 9 MHz space of one C-band transponder for its proposed entertainment channel, Indiavision Yes. The channel is expected to launch in the first half of this year.
Tag: NSTP
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Isro to hand over Insat 4A Ku-band transponders to Tata Sky on 1 February
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Insat 4A C-band transponders hot with teleport ops
MUMBAI: The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) has almost sold out transponder space on Insat 4A. While the 12 Ku-band transponders on the satellite are sold to Tata Sky for direct-to-home (DTH) operations, there are takers for its C-band transponders.
Private teleport operators Essel Shyam, Noida Software Technology Park (NSTP) and Lamhas have booked C-band transponders to facilitate transmission on multiple channels per carrier (MCPC) mode. “Insat 4A’s C-band transponders are more or less sold out. Essel Shyam, NSTP and Lamhas have booked a transponder each. Among the other takers are Malayala Manorama which has booked half a transponder,” Isro contract management and legal services director SB Iyer tells Indiantelevision.com.
Lamhas is setting up an uplinking facility in Navi Mumbai and plans to offer transponder space as well for those who want to use the facility. Essel Shyam, a joint venture between Essel Group and Shyam telecom, has a teleport in Noida from where the Zee and other channels are uplinked.
Meanwhile, Insat 4A has moved to 81.5 degree East where in-orbit testing of the payloads is being carried out as there is no satellite in that location.
“The testing will be for about 15-20 days before we move it to its final orbital position of 83 degree E. We expect to operationalise the satellite before the end of January,” says Iyer.
Isro plans to launch 4B, where the Doordarshan channels will reside, in July-August, he adds.