By IANS
New Delhi : The government has decided to place the contract for launching of GSAT-8/INSAT-4G communication satellites with Arianespace of Europe.
The decision was approved by the union cabinet at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Thursday.
The cabinet approval has however put a rider, saying “The cost of the project should not exceed $67.5 million or Rs.2.97 billion”, said Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi while briefing newsmen on the decisions of the cabinet.
He also informed that “an option for an additional launch and also a waiver of the bank guarantee requirements has also been approved by the cabinet”.
The cabinet decision “will facilitate the timely launch of GSAT-8/INSAT-4G in (the) 2008-09 timeframe”, said the minister.
He informed that the “GSAT-8/INSAT-4G will provide 18 high power Ku-band (DTH quality) transponders to the INSAT system along with the second Geo Stationary augmentation payload for the GPS and GEO Augmented navigation (GAGAN). This will facilitate a number of services in the field of navigation, telecommunications, TV broadcasting and distribution, Ku-band VSAT, broadband services, digital video broadcast, rural areas communications and distance education.”