Bangabandhu Satellite to begin transmission Tuesday

Staff Correspondent: Bangladesh’s first geostationary communication satellite Bangabandhu-I (BS-I) is set to start its maiden transmission tomorrow (Tuesday) through broadcasting of South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship.

Dr Shahjahan Mahmood, Chairman of Bangladesh Communication Satellite Company Limited (BCSCL), said, “We are set to broadcast the SAFF Championship using BS-I through Bangladesh Television (BTV).”

He added: “We will provide feed to BTV after receiving it from a private satellite TV station which wins broadcasting rights for the tournament.”

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.

“Now, the time has come to move ahead . . . and we would observe the operation of BS-I in next two weeks through this trial test,” he said

Asked about the preparedness of local satellite TV channels for receiving the service, he said BCSCL engineers were working with them to install the necessary equipment.

“Some equipment regarding the satellite connection is needed to be installed for switching over to Bangabandhu-I from other satellite,” said the chairman.

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.

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 September 4 to 15.


risingbd/Dhaka/Sept 3, 2018/Hasan/AI