Bangabandhu-1 Satellite Introduction:
"Bangladesh entered a new era as a proud member of the satellite club from today as the flag of Bangladesh has also been hoisted in the space through launching of the Bangabandhu-1 Satellite." ---Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said in a televised message after the launch of the Bangabandhu-1 Sattelite. The launch made Bangladesh the 57th nation in the world and fourth in South Asia after India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka to own a satellite. On 14 June 1975 Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman initiated the country's first space mission by inaugurating the country's first land satellite station at Betbuniya. Finally, on November 11, 2015, Bangladesh signed the agreement with France's Thales Alenya Space for the construction of the first land-based artificial satellite "Bangabandhu-1". Later on, May 12, 2018, after the successful launch of the Sattelite at 2:14 am Bangladesh gets its place in the Elite Society of the satellite-owned countries. In this context Tarana Halim said, "The daughter of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman led the country to victory in the space after conquerd the sea. Nobody will be able to stop Bangabandhu's Bangladesh”. After 10 days of launch, the satellite reached its orbit on 21 May. Ground station sources established at Betbuniya of Rangamati confirmed the matter. The satellite started sending partial signals from May 22. Bangabandhu-1 was implemented by the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) under the postal and telecommunications ministry and for the overall management there is the new organization "Bangladesh Communication Satellite Company Limited (BCSCL)" formed in 2017. What is a Sattelite?
A satellite is an object that moves around a larger la rger object. Earth is a satellite because it moves around the sun. The moon is a satellite because it moves around Earth. Earth and the moon are called "natural" satellites. But usually when someone says "satellite," they are talking about a "man-made" satellite. Man-made satellites are machines made by people. These machines are launched into space and orbit Earth or another body in space. There are thousands of man-made satellites. Some take pictures of our planet. Some take pictures of other planets, the sun and other objects. Compiled by
These pictures help scientists learn about Earth, the solar system and the universe. Other satellites send TV signals and phone calls around the world. Satellites fly high in the sky, so they can see large areas of Earth at one time. Satellites also have a clear view of space. That's because they fly above Earth's clouds and air. Before satellites, TV signals didn't go very far. TV signals only travel in straight lines. So they would go off into space instead of following Earth's curve. Sometimes they would be blocked by mountains or tall buildings. Phone calls to faraway places were also a problem. It costs a lot and it is hard to set up telephone wires over long distances or underwater. With satellites, TV signals and phone calls can be sent up to a satellite. The satellite can then send them back down to different spots on Earth. Currently, more than half of the satellites in the space are owned by United States, they have 2137 satellites. 10 countries utilized their own technology to build satellites and they are USA, UK, Russia, China, France, Japan, North Korea, India, Iran and Israel. Histor y of B angaband angaband hu-1 Sate Satelli lli te:
The first attempt to own a satellite in Bangladesh started in 2007. At that time Bangladesh requested the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), an agency under the United Nations to give an orbit in the space of 102 degrees east longitude. But 20 countries objected to the petition of Bangladesh. In 2008, the regulatory body of telecommunications sector in Bangladesh formed a committee for the construction of artificial satellite. Then, in 2009, the National Information Technology Policy was introduced to launch a state-of-the-art satellite. Bangladesh introduces electronic application to International Telecommunication Union (ITU) for launching its own satellite. In March 2012, the US-based organization 'Space Partnership International' was appointed to design the satellite system. BTRC has signed an agreement with French company Thales Alenya Space to buy satellite system with a total of 1,951 crore 75 lakh 34 thousand taka. In 2015, BTRC formally signed a contract for the purchase of orbital slot from Russia's space communications organization “Intersputnik”. In 2017 an organization called 'Bangladesh Communication Satellite Company Limited' was formed for the overall management of the satellite. The initial capital of this organization was approved five thousand crores taka. Compiled by
Brief descri ption o f Bangabandhu-1 Sate Satellit llit e:
The satellite was named after the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Bangabandhu-1 satellite carries a total of 40 transponders (26 KU-band and 14 C-band transponders) with a capacity of 1600 MHz. In the outer section of the satellite the red-green flag of Bangladesh is painted and on the flag there is written “Bangabandhu-1” in English and Bangla. There is also a monogram of the government of Bangladesh. The Bangabandhu-1 satellite weighs 3,500 kg and it is a Geo Stationary satellite. Construction and financ ing of the Satellite:
In September 2014, an ECNEC meeting sanctioned 2968 crores tk for the transmission and telecommunication services in the country through the launching of artificial satellite. In this amount, the government's own fund was allocated 1315.51 crores tk, which is 44 percent of the total expenditure. In addition to this, a plan to collect 1652 crores 44 lakhs taka for the project through Bidder's financing. In September of 2016, Hong Kong Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) signed a loan agreement with the government to provide 1400 crores taka. It will be paid in 20 installments in 12 years with a 1.51 percent interest rate. The original structure of "Bangabandhu-1" satellite has been created by France's Thales Alenya Space. Its construction work is completed on March 30, 2018. After construction, testing, review and transfer a special cargo plane was sent to the Cape Canaveral Launch site in Florida. Design Design and development of Bangabandh u-1 Sate Satelli lli te:
Thales Alenia Space was selected as prime contractor to provide turnkey systems, including design, production, testing services for the Bangabandhu-1 satellite, in November 2015. The scope of the contract also includes the development of ground segment.The satellite’s communications module integration work is carried out at Thales Alenia Space plant located at Toulouse in France. The critical design review (CDR) of the satellite was completed in January 2017. The service module for the satellite is manufactured at Cannes in France.Thales Alenia Space Belgium, Thales Alenia Space Italia and Thales Alenia Space España are also involved in the development of this satellite and the ground Compiled by
components.The sattelite based on Spacebus 4000B2 platform and have have a launch mass of 3,500 kg. It will include two deployable solar arrays with batteries. The spacecraft will have a designed lifespan of 15 years. Orbit and Footpr Footpr int of Bangabandh u-1 Satellite:
The orbital slot is bought from “Intersputnik”, the satellite telecommunications networks of Russia for launching the satellite and keeping it in orbit. In space the location of orbit is 119.1° east longitude. Based on the agreement made in January 2015, this orbit is purchased for 15 years at approximately 219 crores taka. After 15 years, Bangladesh will be able to renew the contract for the next 15 years. Bangladesh is located 86-91 degrees east longitude. In this regard, Bangladesh supposed to get orbit in this position. But there are four satellites, including two of Russia's in 88-91 degrees east longitude line. So the place here is not possible to be taken. But despite the vacancy of 86-88 degrees, the space agency ITU did not give slot to Bangladesh. Bangladesh tried to get a slot of 102 degrees. There are several countries including Russia, Australia and France objected. Their objection was that the Bangabandhu-1 satellite will obstruct their broadcast. Later Bangladesh tried it at 69 degrees. There were also similar objections from China, Singapore, Malaysia and several other countries. Finally, Bangladesh gets 119.1 degree east longitude line. The footprint of the Bangabandhu-1 satellite will extend from Indonesia to Tajikistan. Under the KY band Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Philippine and Indonesia region includes along with its water resources in the Bay of Bengal. All these areas will be covered under the C band also. Ground st ation of th e Satellite: Satellite:
The satellite will be controlled by two ground stations, which will be used for primary and back-up site operations and control centres. Thales Alenia Space provided tools for the ground segment for the mission planning and space operations monitoring. It also build two ground facility buildings, which will house satellite control and network operations centre. “Spectra Engineers” was contracted to execute civil works of the ground facilities. Ground Station of Bangabandhu-1 Satellite has been set up in Joydebpur of Gazipur and Betbuniya of Rangamati.
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Meanwhile, the primary station of Bangabandhu-1 satellite has established in the adjacent area of “Telecommunication Staff College” at Teliapara in Gazipur which is fully prepared. This is the main control center while, Rangamati Ground Station is an alternative to station at Gazipur. Launching of satellite: satellite:
Bangabandhu-1 satellite launched from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, USA on May 12, 2018, at 2:14 am. The private aerospace research company “Space X” conducted the launch of the satellite. The satellite is fired using the new block-5 model of Space-X's Falcon-9 rocket and Payload. Earlier it was attempted to launch at 4:02 pm (Bangladesh time) on the last 10th of May, but due to technical error it was canceled at the last moment. In-Orb In-Orbit it Test Test (IOT (IOT): ):
After 10 days of launching, the satellite reached its orbit on 21 May. Ground station sources established at Betbunya of Rangamati confirmed the matter. On May 22, the satellite started sending partial signals. After the Bangabandhu-1 satellite reached the orbit it’s In Orbit Test (IOT) was started. According to the rules, this test have to conducted for about three weeks. Bangabandhu-1 satellite project director Mesbahuzzaman said, "All the news till now is going on as per the plan. Only after completing IOT the control of satellite will handed over at Gazipur ground station." Bangabandhu-1 satellite offers opportunities:
Bangabandhu-1 satellite is to establish Bangladesh's own stake on the space opening up enormous opportunities providing several advantages involving fields of field of information and communication technology (ICT) and broadcasting industry alongside brightening Bangladesh image, reports BSS. 1. Experts and officials said the country's first geostationary communication satellite will firstly help expansion of internet and telecommunication services in remote and rugged areas which still remained beyond the coverage. The satellite would expand the country's capacity in weather forecasting and monitoring to face natural disasters from its location at the Compiled by
119.1 east geostationary slot, covering as well all the SAARC countries and Indonesia, the Philippines, Myanmar, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkestan and a part of Kazakhstan. K azakhstan. 2. In the event of unexpected disasters Bangladesh’s existing telecommunication systems may collapse when satellite network can play an important role in ensuring uninterrupted telecommunication services throughout the country. 3. Bangladesh could earn a huge foreign currency by selling satellite’s transponder to other countries while it now needs to spend a huge amount of money for the service from others satellite specially for the broadcasting industry. The experts said, moreover, Bangabandhu-I would appear as a crucial tool in ensuring further the national security. The launching of the satellite earned Bangladesh the status of being a member of the satellite owning nations as the 57th country. 4. Currently over 30 Satellite TV channels are in operation in Bangladesh using rented satellite services from Singapore and other countries that cost about $14 million annually. Once launched, the Bangabandhu-I satellite will save the foreign currency expenditure while the channels huge viewership particularly in the Middle East countries are expected to be its main commercial user. 5. On the other hand, Bangladesh could earn foreign currency by renting the Bangabandhu-1 transponders to other countries while officials said out of its 40 transponders, 20 were kept for rent. Officials said the newly formed Bangabandhu Satellite Communication Company Limited (BSCCL) already began negotiations with Indonesia and the Philippines for renting out the transponders. 6. Internet bandwidth is another product of Bangabandhu-I while BTRC said out of the satellite’s 40 transponders having a total 1,600 MHz frequency while 26 of them in KU band and 14 in C-band. The Bangladeshi satellite TV stations earlier feared the Bangabandhu-1’s location might create some difficulties for their transmission but regulatory BTRC chairman Shahjahan Mahmood told, they would collaborate with other satellites to solve issue easily. Currently, all private TV channels in Bangladesh use Apstar-7 satellite, which is at 76.5 degrees east. Only
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government-owned BTV uses Asiasat-7, another satellite, which is at 105.5 degrees east. 7. The Direct-to-Home (DTH) as alternative of cable television service providers will be another major consumer of the satellite. DTH services always provide faster access to worldwide television entertainment and now they will have an easier and faster access to global TV entertainments through Bangabandhu-1. 8. The satellite will make video distribution easier as well enabling broadcasters to effortlessly distribute their content to intermediaries like cable TV network operators or re-broadcasters like DTH operators. The satellite will have VSAT private networks consisting of voice, data, video and internet services to the banks, corporate offices etc. Limi tations and Over Over expectations fr om Bangabandhu -1 sattelite:
There are also some concerns about the Bangabandhu-1 satellite which has been thought in recent times. Some limitations, over expectations and concerns about satellite are discussed below : 1. How accurately the satellite located at 119.1 degree will cover the area that located at 90.4 degree? If it was possible to cover perfectly by a satellite at any position in the space, why would every country eager to lounch their satellite at its own axis? If they do not have any problems, why they objected to Bangladesh? Finally, why did the ITU refused Bangladesh to allocate 86°-88° orbital slot even after that slot were empty? Whatever the answers, they certainly will not be favorable to Bangladesh. 2. It is not certain that all of the channels or private companies of Bangladesh are willing to accept service from our own satellite. Because, they will not want to compromise with the quality qualit y of service.
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3. The government is dreaming of earning 50 million dollars by serveing other country through Bangabandhu-1 satellite. Their primary targets are Bhutan, Nepal, Myanmar, Arab and Southeast Asia. ItIt is a ridiculous argument that Nepal and Bhutan will take service from us excluding India. To make the argument more ridiculous, the number of satellites of different countries in Asia can be considered. Country /Organizations Indonesia Japan Malaisia Pakistan Philippines Taiwan UAE Vietnam Singapur Thailand KSA South Korea Kazakhstan Turkey Iran Turkmenistan Arab States Communication Organization Asia Satellite Telecom Company (References: ISRO)
Number of Satellites 13 197 9 3 2 9 7 5 4 8 13 18 5 10 5 1 13 7
4. It is claimed that every types of satellite satell ite related task will be accomplished by Bangabandhu-1 , which is not possible. For example example if I consider consider India, 34 of its 84 satellites are used for telecommunications purpose only. The rest of their satellites are for Earth observations, Navy or Space Science purposes. The work of only one satellite out of 84 has been shown in Communications and Weather Monitoring purposes only. 5. The government did not tell how its own financing will manage 1300 crores taka. If this money is loaned, the interest will be less than 70 crore annually. Bangladesh's foreign debt is usually up to 30 years. Then upto 30 years interest will be tk.2100 crores with the rent that have to paid to Compiled by
intersputnik 15 crores a year. It will be tk.85 crore annually in interest and rent. Lion share of the profit from the satellite will be consumed by interest and rent purposes. 6. A satellite may have been broken or derailed into space. We do not have the resources to recover it, and if such unfortunate incident occurs, it will require crores of money to repair. 7. The Satellite maintaining work has been given to a foreign company.
There is a lot of incidents of looting or destruction of the country's resources by foreign companies. On June 24, 2005, Tengratila gas burned worth millions of dollars. No case has been filed on that issue yet. There is no guarantee that Thales Alenia Space does not do anything like this, or if they do so nothing can be done against them. Conclusions:
If the former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, who termed Bangladesh as a "Bottomless Basket" is informed about Bangladesh's own satellite, perhaps he would be ashamed of his statement .It is needless to say that it will brighten our image abroad. It should be kept in mind that, satellite launching or it’s reaching to the orbital is not not the last word, we we must continue our diplomatic efforts so that we can get the highest output from satellite that that sent at a cost of around 3 billions taka. Our Our government should continue diplomatic negotiation with our target countries or organizations which which are interested interested in buying satellite bandwidths. Only then the purpose of satellite will be fullfilled which made by the money earned by the blood of the common people of our country and we will go a step further in the formation of Digital Bangladesh.
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Key poin ts: Introduction What is a Sattelite? Histor y of B angaband angaband hu-1 Sate Satelli lli te Brief descri ption o f Bangabandhu-1 Sate Satellit llit e Construction and financ ing of the Satellite Design Design and development of Bangabandh u-1 Sate Satelli lli te Orbit and Footpri nt of B angabandhu-1 Sate Satelli lli te Ground s tation of t he Sate Satellit llit e Launching of satellite In-Orbit Test (IOT) Bangabandhu -1 satellite satellite offers oppo rtunities
Limitations and Over expectations from Bangabandhu-1 Sattelite Conclusions
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