Open Universities To Widen Satellite Services

The Department of Space has firmed plans of placing a satellite dedicated for educational purposes in the next 18 months at an investment of Rs 700 crore.

To be christened edu-satellite this will be used for beaming channels and other data specifically for educational purpose.

Talking to reporters at the sideline of a press conference on All India Conference of Vice Chancellors of Open Universities to be held in collaboration with Distance Education Council, the Vice Chancellor of Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), H P Diksit said that the satellite was being built with the specific purpose of addressing the increased requirement of education to meet the increased demand in the current plan period.

The satellite will also be used for conducting classes for para-medics, teachers, basic health care and all social sectors that require training and education. It will also be used for the national health care plan.

At present IGNOU beams four channels for conducting classes through satellites which are also used for other purposes and there is a problem of bandwidth, this problem will be solved once the satellite is in the orbit.

Meanwhile, the university has also firmed up plans of floating 40 frequency modulator (FM) radio stations of which seven are already on.