Post-modern Scientific Age And Bangladesh:

Bangabadhu satellite project is considered as the most sophisticated project in countries history. According to telecom minister, it will bring global respect for Bangladesh. That’s why it is considered as the entrance of a new digital chapter after the liberation war of Bangladesh. With the launch of Bangabandhu-1, Bangladesh became the 57th country in the world and fourth in South Asia -- after India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka -- to have its own satellite in space.

A precise information about Bangabandhu-1 Satellite Project:

বঙ্গবন্ধু-১ স্যাটেলাইটের সাথে ফ্যালকন ৯ রকেট উৎক্ষেপণ
মিশন টাইপঃ যোগাযোগ এবং সম্প্রচার স্যাটেলাইট
চালকঃ বাংলাদেশ স্যাটেলাইট যোগাযোগ প্রতিষ্ঠান
COSPAR ID: ২০১৮-০৪৪এ
SATCAT no.: ৪৩৪৬৩
বঙ্গবন্ধু স্যাটেলাইট প্রকল্প
মিশনের দীর্ঘস্থায়িত্বঃ ১৫ বছর
মহাকাশে স্থানঃ রাশিয়া (সাবেক ইউএসএসআর)
স্পেসক্রাফট সম্পদ, স্পেসবাস- ৪০০০ বি ২
উৎপাদকঃ থ্যালেস ভ্যালেন্সিয়া আলেনিয়া স্পেস, (ইউএসএ, ইটালি, ফ্রান্স, স্পেন, বেলজিয়াম)
উৎক্ষেপণ ভরঃ ৩,৭০৯ কিলোগ্রাম (৮,১৭৭১)
শক্তিঃ ৬ কিলোওয়াট
মিশনের যাত্রাঃ ১১ মে ২০১৮
রকেট ফ্যালকন ৯ ব্লক ৫ মডেল [২]
উৎক্ষেপণ স্থানঃ কেনেডি স্পেস উৎক্ষেপণ কেন্দ্র ৩৯এ
উৎক্ষেপণ কেন্দ্রঃ কেপ ক্যানাভেরাল, ফ্লোরিডা, ইউএসএ
জরুরী অবতরণ কেন্দ্রঃ উদ্ধারকারী নৌযান (অ্যাটলান্টিক মহাসাগর)
চুক্তিঃ স্পেস এক্স (ইউএসএ), কক্ষপথ পরিমাপক
স্পেস এক্স মালিকঃ এলন মাস্ক [Elon Musk]



Bangabandhu-1 satellite is considered the first geostationary communications satellite of Bangladesh which is situated in the South Asian region. It is precisely known as (BD-1). It is also called Bangabandhu Satellite (BS-1). Bangabandhu Satellite-1 (BS-1) is considered as a development for Bangladesh in the digital era. It was developed by (BTRC) Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission. The satellite contained by geostationary earth orbit (GEO) which was launched in 11 May 2018. The satellite project costing Tk 2,765.66 crore through which Bangladesh entered the elite space club of 57 nations who have sent satellites into orbit.

Location And Impact Area:

The BTRC in 2013 negotiated with the Russian-Intersputnik and rented the 119.1 east orbital slot for Tk 221 crore for 15 years. Bangladesh will be able to send three more satellites to the same slot. The BD-1 satellite will be covering & offers services in Bangladesh and its neighboring region. Stationed at 119.1° East, the system will provide Ku-band coverage for Bangladesh and its territorial waters in the Bay of Bengal, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, the Philippines and Indonesia, Myanmar, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkestan and a part of Kazakhstan while providing C-band support to the entire region.

The primary service area (PSA) of the satellite is Bangladesh and neighboring countries as well as its secondary service areas (SSA) include South East Asia, Europe, Middle East and North Africa (MENA), as well as East Africa.

The satellite is controlled by specialized engineers through two ground stations. It has two major functions- satellite control and network operations. It is used for primary and back-up site operations and control centers. After the activity, it will be controlled from three stations in the US, Italy and South Korea.

Ground Station (Local) and Test signal: Bangabandhu Satellite-1

Local groundstations of BD-1 satellite is in Gazipur. Secondary Ground Station at Betbunia, Rangamati. Both station have successfully received initial test signals (12 may, 2018) from it at 6:25pm & US Eastern Time (BST 4:25am). State Minister for ICT is fully aware of it. BD-1 is successfully deployed at Bangladesh's specified orbit slot "within 36 minutes" of the launch. It was considered as a proud moment for the country.

Seven private television stations and three channels of state-run Bangladesh Television have started airing programmes using Bangabandhu-1. 48 local and international channels, through Bangabandhu-1, signed a deal with BCSCL (Bangladesh Communication Satellite Company Ltd) for direct-to-home services.

Countries Involved In Developing BD-1 Satellite:

Thales Valencia Space USA, Thales Alenia Space Belgium, Thales Alenia Space Italia and Thales Alenia Space España were also involved in the development of the satellite and the ground components.

Thales Alenia Space developed Spacebus 4000B2 platform. The average launch mass of BD-1 satellite is 3,500kg. It includes two deployable solar arrays with batteries.

Probable Facility One can expect from BD-1 Satellite: Capacity of Communication

Bangabandhu-1 will also be a crucial tool for surveillance and ensuring national security and will be a huge stride towards digitization. The position of this satellite is located at 119.1°E longitude orbital. It provides broadcasting and telecommunication services to rural areas in Bangladesh. It also supports profitable services, including direct-to-home (DTH) services. Now we can raise questions.

What purpose will it serve?

The BD-1 satellite is fitted with 26 Ku-Band and 14 C-Band transponders. The major applications of the spacecraft include services…

1) direct-to-home (DTH) service for TV channels
2) Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) communications,
3) backhaul and trunking,
4) network restoration, and
5) disaster preparedness and
6) Relief.



The country's remote parts -- haors, hilly parts, coastal areas and deep-sea zones -- will get internet service from the satellite. It will also be helpful in distance learning and telemedicine services. It will also contribute to reduce digital discrimination. A total of 4,547 union information centers have been set up to reduce the digital discrimination in the country, he said, citing examples of digitalization in birth registration, agricultural information, health and education sectors through Access to Information (A2i) programme. Mohakhali IT Village in Dhaka, Chandradweep Cloudchar in Barisal, Electronic City in Sylhet and Barind Silicon City in Rajshahi, Kaliakoir High-tech Park in Gazipur district and Software Technology Park in Jessore are important info. hub of digital Bangladesh.

Currently, Bangladesh meets its demand for satellite connectivity by renting bandwidth from foreign operators. The BD-1 satellite enables the nation to save approximately BDT1.08bn ($14m) currently being spent on satellite rents each year. BTRC also plans to launch follow-on series of BD-2 and BD-3 satellites in phases according to International Telecommunication Union.

Seven private television stations and three channels of state-run Bangladesh Television have started airing programmes using Bangabandhu-1.

The stations are....

1) BTV World,
2) Sangsad Bangladesh Television and
3) BTV Chattogram and
4) private channels Somoy TV,
5) DBC News,
6) Independent TV,
7) NTV,
8) Ekattor TV,
9) Bijoy TV and
10) Boishaki TV
11) State-run Bangladesh Betar

Each television station in Bangladesh uses four to six megahertz of bandwidth and spends $20,000 a month on an average for satellite connectivity. This creates a possibility of business amount of $10 million for BCSCL. Currently, there are 34 television channels in Bangladesh which are shelling out $14 million per year to use satellites from other countries.

BD-1 satellite Improvement, design And Finance process: A Review of Past

Thales Valencia Alenia Space is a renowned rocket manufacturer company in the United States of America. It was selected as prime contractor to manufacture and provide satellite systems. It included with design, production, testing services for the BD-1 satellites. It inaugurated in November 2015. The range of contract also refers the development of ground station.

But there is difference. The BTRC in November, 2015, signed a deal with French company Thales Alenia Space to build the satellite within December 16, 2017. BD-1 satellite’s communications module integration work was carried out at Thales Alenia Space plant. It is located at Toulouse in France. The review of critical design (CDR) of BD-1 satellite was completed in January 2017. The service module for the satellite was manufactured at Cannes. The whole satellite mating was completed in March 2017. The spacecraft has a designed lifespan of 15 years.

The development of BD-1 satellite was completed at a cost of $248m. The Bangladeshi Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) approved $37.58m in funding for the development of the country’s first satellite in September 2014. Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) provided $17.46m for the construction of the BD-1 and its ground equipment.

Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has connection with US based Space Partnership International. Russian Space Agency (Roscosmos) and American Space Agencies (NASA) were pioneers of making Space Shuttle for International Space Station. But NASA discontinuing Space Shuttle Program from 2011. Soyuz by Roscosmos has taken this place. BTRC (Bangladesh) awarded the satellite contract to European satellite manufacturer Thales Alenia Space. Because they have efficiency in Boeing, Orbital ATK, MDA Corporation. Chinese Great Wall Industry Corporation also involved in 2015 for a contract to construct the satellite, build ground infrastructure for the operation, training of resources and provisioning of a launch vehicle for $248 million. Bangladesh wanted to put up the satellite on December 16, 2017. SpaceX using their Falcon 9 Block 5. It is the most high-tech rocket. (অসমাপ্ত)



This Writing refers Courtesy Toward:

1. International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
2. Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC)
3. Bangladesh Communication Satellite Company Ltd (BCSCL)
4. The Bangladeshi Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC)
5. The Daily Star
6. Russian Space Agency (Roscosmos)
7. American Space Agencies (NASA)
8. Thales Valencia Alenia Space Shuttle/Rocket Manufacturer Corporation (TVASSRMC) Europe & North America

To be continued………….