DHAKA, May 11, 2020 (BSS) – Bangladesh’s first communication satellite,
Bangabandhu-I would mark the second anniversary tomorrow at it was launched
to the orbit on May 12, 2018 from United States.
Bangabandhu Satellite (BS-I) has not only been providing services to all
local private television (TV) channels, but also broadcasting state-owned
Bangladesh Television (BTV) in Middle Eastern and North African countries to
meet special interest of local viewers, especially expatriate Bangladeshis
from April.
Talking to BSS, Chairman of Bangladesh Communication Satellite Company
Limited (BCSCL) Dr Shahjahan Mahmood today said they are not celebrating the
day due to this unwanted situation rendered by COVID-19 pandemic in the
country.
“Although we are not celebrating this occasion for Coronavirus, but BCSCL
is working to some issues for the betterment of TV industry,” he revealed.
Replying to a query related to these issues, he said “Set Top Box (STB)
distribution to all customers would be made mandatory for all cable operators
within next 2/3 months to count the real time viewers in the country.”
Besides about the future plan of BCSCL, Dr Mahmood said they would have
appointed consultant to expedite launching process of second satellite, “but,
COVID-19 pandemic halted their work on it”.
On April 10, BS-I in collaboration with Thaicom-6, a Thai satellite of the
Thaicom series, has made the arrangement for BTV’s satellite based-branch,
BTV World to broadcast programme to Middle Eastern and North African
countries.
“Initially, we are now working on BTV World and upon the result of
experimental period, we would start process of other private television
channels of the country for Middle East, North Africa and other regions,”
said BCSCL Chairman.
BCSCL said all TV channels are now running broadcast operation receiving
services from the BS-I.
Moreover, BS-I is working to connect automated teller machines (ATM) of
different banks to offer uninterrupted and secure banking services.
French manufacturer Thales Alenia Space launched the BS-I in May 12 from
Florida at a cost of Taka 2,765 crore, and according to the plan, it will
reach break-even within seven years of starting its commercial service.
Located at the 119.1 east geostationary slot, BS-I has been covering 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.
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.
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.