Bhutan is now targeting to commission the South Asia Satellite towards the end of this month after missing its deadline in July this year. Once commissioned the Bhutan Broadcasting Service Corporation’s (BBSC) television and radio signals will reach every part of the country.
The installation works of earth station which cost around Nu 10 M has been completed and set up of the control room is underway. An Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is executing the works.
“The progress is very is slow but it is definitely happening and ISRO is helping us. They have outsourced it to ALPHA technologies and it is about to complete. By end of this month, we are hopeful that we will be launching the services,” Jigme Thinlye Namgyal, the Director General of Department of Information Technology & Telecom, MoIC, said.
The contract process delayed the works of the project.
“We have been informed that the awarding of contract took quite a long time. But we are working together with the ALPHA technologies to launch on time,” Jigme Thinlye Namgyal said.
Besides the full range of applications and services in the areas of telecommunications and broadcasting, the satellite is also expected to help support water conservation initiatives by providing data, forecasting weather and sending alerts on natural disasters.
The project is funded by the Government of India.
The South Asia Satellite or GSAT-9 launched in May last year is a gift from India to its neighbouring countries. It will be used by Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka.
