Vsnl, Antrix Enter Alliance For Satellite Capacity

Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd (VSNL) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Antrix, the commercial arm of the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro), to acquire the satellite capacity in the Indian Ocean region. The MoU will enable VSNL and ISRO to clearly converge on the requirements of the satellite and will serve the multi-service requirements of the former and its customers.

Expansion plans of VSNL is being planned through Antrix, which will help the company augment the space segment capacity.

VSNL is expecting a significant growth in its transponder requirements (in the `C' band and the `Ku' band) in the next three years.

S K Gupta, chairman and managing director, VSNL, said that the MoU will "herald the entry of VSNL into a regional role in international operation". At present, the company uses the Inselsat system for a majority of its satellite connectivity requirement. A press release issued by the company stated that VSNL has over 30 earth station antennas used on six Inselsat satellites (degrees: 60,62,64,66,83,359) and is the second largest shareholder in the Inselsat system.

Speaking on the agreement, Dr K Kasturirangan, chairman, ISRO, said "This would help a number of users in India, including VSNL, to deploy high technology satellite connectivity applications".

Inselsat and Isro have had a close working relationship with the leasing of 11 transponders on the Insat-2E satellite by Intelsat. Nine of these satellite transponders are now being offered by VSNL to satellite broadcasters in India.

ISRO is the first organisation from which Inselsat has leased satellite capacity as a part of its international fleet of operating satellites. VSNL was closely associated as the signatory to Inselsat in the Inselsat and ISRO partnership.