DHAKA NEWS
Dhaka, Mar 29 Post and Telecommunications minister Rajiuddin Ahmed Raju has announced that the country would launch its first-ever satellite named after 'Bangabandhu' in three years.
The minister made the announcement following signing of a deal with USA-based Space Partnership International (SPI), which would help launch the satellite.
"After the government assumed power, the first cabinet meeting approved launching of the country's first-ever satellite. The deal with SPI takes the dream of Digital Bangladesh a step further," said Raju.
SPI managing director Bruce Kraselsky and Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (BTRC) chairman Zia Ahmed signed the deal on behalf of their respective authorities at BTRC Bhaban on Thursday.
US ambassador Dan W Mozena was also present at the contract signing ceremony.
Currently, all television channels, institutions providing internet services, V-sat and radio channels are running their operations using foreign satellites.
According to BTRC, each television channel pays about US $0.0002 billion annually for using the satellites, and all institutions, including the 19 television channels, taken together end up paying US $0.004 billion every year.
BTRC said launching of a satellite would not only reduce the expenditure but also earn foreign currency for the country.
"Bangladesh may earn about US $ 50 million a year after the satellite is launched," said Kraselsky.
SPI will act as a consultant firm in launching the satellite. It will help Bangladesh in market evaluation, marketing of the satellite, building expertise to operate the satellite and management of the ground station. The SPI will charge Tk 0.87 billion for the job.
The minister made the announcement following signing of a deal with USA-based Space Partnership International (SPI), which would help launch the satellite.
"After the government assumed power, the first cabinet meeting approved launching of the country's first-ever satellite. The deal with SPI takes the dream of Digital Bangladesh a step further," said Raju.
SPI managing director Bruce Kraselsky and Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (BTRC) chairman Zia Ahmed signed the deal on behalf of their respective authorities at BTRC Bhaban on Thursday.
US ambassador Dan W Mozena was also present at the contract signing ceremony.
Currently, all television channels, institutions providing internet services, V-sat and radio channels are running their operations using foreign satellites.
According to BTRC, each television channel pays about US $0.0002 billion annually for using the satellites, and all institutions, including the 19 television channels, taken together end up paying US $0.004 billion every year.
BTRC said launching of a satellite would not only reduce the expenditure but also earn foreign currency for the country.
"Bangladesh may earn about US $ 50 million a year after the satellite is launched," said Kraselsky.
SPI will act as a consultant firm in launching the satellite. It will help Bangladesh in market evaluation, marketing of the satellite, building expertise to operate the satellite and management of the ground station. The SPI will charge Tk 0.87 billion for the job.
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