DATE=4/3/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-247600
TITLE=INDIA/SATELLITE (L-ONLY) -- CQ
BYLINE=ANJANA PASRICHA
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: (EDS: RE-RUNNING TO INSERT DROPPED PREPOSITION - OF -
IN INTRO; NO OTHER CHANGES.)
INTRO: INDIA HAS ENTERED THE GLOBAL TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES
MARKET WITH THE LAUNCH OF A NEW SATELLITE FROM FRENCH GUYANA.
FROM NEW DELHI, ANJANA PASRICHA HAS A REPORT.
TEXT: SCIENTISTS AT THE INDIAN SPACE RESEARCH ORGANIZATION SAY
THE SATELLITE LAUNCHED EARLY SATURDAY IS INDIA'S MOST ADVANCED
SATELLITE. IT'S FOOTPRINT (I.E. COVERAGE AREA) COVERS ASIA AND
AUSTRALIA.
THE SATELLITE -- CALLED INSAT-2E -- IS EXPECTED TO GIVE A BOOST
TO THE COUNTRY'S TELECOMMUNICATION AND METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES.
MORE SIGNIFICANTLY, INDIA HAS MADE A BREAKTHROUGH IN THE GLOBAL
TELECOMMUNICATION MARKET BY FINDING A FOREIGN CUSTOMER TO USE THE
SATELLITE'S FACILITIES.
THE 104-NATION WASHINGTON-BASED CONSORTIUM, INTELSAT, HAS BOUGHT
MORE THAN HALF OF INSAT- 2E'S CAPACITY FOR 100 MILLION DOLLARS.
THIS WILL ENABLE INTELSAT TO EXPAND ITS FACILITIES IN THE
ASIA-PACIFIC REGION.
SO FAR, INDIAN COMMUNICATION SATELLITES PROVIDED ONLY INDIGENOUS
SERVICES. BUT IN RECENT YEARS, INDIA HAS FOCUSED ATTENTION ON
EXPLORING THE BUSINESS POTENTIAL OF ITS SATELLITES. IT ALSO WANTS
TO ENTER THE COMMERCIAL SATELLITE LAUNCH BUSINESS.
THE 50-MILLION DOLLAR SATELLITE IS EXPECTED TO STAY IN EARTH
ORBIT FOR 12 YEARS -- THE LONGEST PERIOD FOR AN INDIAN SATELLITE.
INDIAN PRIME MINISTER ATAL BEHARI VAJPAYEE SAYS THE SATELLITE'S
LAUNCH WILL HELP TRANSFORM THE LIVES OF MILLIONS OF INDIANS.
INDIA HAS SPENT BILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON ITS SPACE PROGRAM --
SOMETIMES ATTRACTING CRITICISM FOR INVESTING MONEY IN HIGH
TECHNOLOGY AREAS RATHER THAN IMPROVING BASIC SERVICES SUCH AS
HEALTH AND LITERACY. (SIGNED)
NEB/AP/GE
03-Apr-99 10:20 AM EST (1520 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
