World Space To Make India Hub For Uplinking
US-based World Space Corporation has plans to make India the uplinking hub for its second satellite, AsiaStar, which will be used by broadcasters for digital satellite radio services.
The company is also scouting for Indian partners who can manufacture and market receivers for digital satellite radio services at costs compatible with the purchasing power of Indians.
"We are here to explore the possibilities of alliances to manufacture and market receivers for our digital satellite radio services," World Space Corporation president and chief operating officer, Harold Adams, told Business Standard yesterday, after signing an agreement with Prasar Bharati involving All India Radio (AIR).
Adams did not rule out joint ventures with Indian companies for this purpose. "May be for this (uplinking hub in India) we tieup with AIR for using their uplinking facilities," he added.
Prasar Bharati chief executive RR Shah said AIR can be the right partner for World Space in developing India as a hub for uplinking for their AsiaStar satellite which is slated to be launched later this year.
Earlier, Prasar Bharati signed an agreement with world space corporation which will help AIR usher in the digital era by launching a digital radio service to West Asia and Northeast Africa from August 1 through AfriStar satellite.
Under the agreement, World Space will provide one channel in its transponder in the east beam of its AfriStar satellite which will help broadcast__in digital mode _- Arabic, Hindi and general overseas service programmes to west asia and Northeast africa.
Digital radio is an exciting alternative to the conventional analogue mode broadcasting. Although broadcasting in analogue mode on short wave is capable of covering the entire world, it is prone to degradation such as fading, noise and distortion.
According to Shah, Prasar Bharati will pay $150,000 annually to World Space for the services under which the US company will also provide uplinking facility from Johannesburg. Adams said his corporation was the first in the world to offer digital audio services to various broadcasters, including BBC, CNN and Bloomberg financial service.