ISRO To Replace Its Ageing Fleet With New Powerful Satellites To Boost Communication, High-Speed Internet 

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is planning to replace more than 10 ageing communication satellites over the next few years, reports The Economic Times.

The new satellites that will be launched will have high throughput that can beam high-speed internet at more than 300 gigabytes per second into remote corners, said Dr K Sivan.

ISRO had launched GSAT-30 on 17 January, to replace the 15-year-old INSAT 4-A satellite. The new satellite carried 12 C band transponders for communication and 12 Ku band transponders designed for direct-to-home transmission.

Sivan said “One of the (important) plans is that wherever we have our ageing satellites, we will have to replace them. We need to have advanced technology (enabled) satellites in the areas of communication, navigation, and earth observation.”

The satellites launched by ISRO have a life cycle of 12-15 years and are positioned in geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) 36,000 kilometres above the earth.

ISRO will replace the ageing fleet of satellites with more powerful ones to aid in communication, internet and television broadcast to meet the bourgeoning communication requirement of India.

Ajey Lele, senior fellow at the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses said, “Technologies progress a lot in 15 years and there are satellites which are 15 years old and they need replacement. The second aspect is, both strategic and commercial needs are increasing equally.”