HYDERABAD: A week after space regulator IN-SPACe cleared the decks for Hyderabad-based Ananth Technologies Ltd (ATL) to become the first private Indian company to offer geosynchronous orbit (GSO) communication satellite services, the company is all geared up to develop and launch its first satellite over the next 18-24 months.
Last week, IN-SPACe announced ATL as the first beneficiary of the ‘Announcement of Opportunity' for non-govt entities to access Indian orbital resources. As part of this, ATL has been permitted to launch a GSO satellite in the Ka band under Indian ITU filing. The move is part of efforts to boost private participation in space sector and make India Atmanirbhar in satellite communication.
"This gives Ananth Technologies an exclusive orbital position in the eastern hemisphere where it can position its communication satellite in geosynchronous orbit at 89E. This orbital position will help ATL bring in and showcase state-of-the-art communication satellite building by an Atmanirbhar Bharat for India," said ATL founder chairman & managing director Dr Subba Rao Pavuluri.
ATL plans to make a Ka band GSO satellite, weighing up to 3000 kg (3 tonnes) and equipped with multiple transponders, over the next 18 months and hopes to launch it in two to six months after that, in 2026, based on launch vehicle availability, he said.
"We will make one Ka band satellite since it is to be operated for bandwidth distribution to remote areas. Based on the orbital position allocations as well as demand and economics, more than one satellite will be required and built for GSO as there is a need for more transponders," said Dr Subba Rao, a former Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) scientist who set up the company in 1992.
He said ATL has a capacity to make about 20 small satellites per month and eight large satellites simultaneously over one and a half years, creating a satellite manufacturing hub in Atmanirbhar Bharat that can make the country a Vishwaguru in the space sector.
Over the past 32 years, ATL contributed to over 100 satellites and 80 launch vehicles. While most of these were for ISRO, it has also contributed to satellite subsystems for American companies and is now working for Australian companies too under the ‘Maitri' programme between India and Australia.
ATL is also developing critical systems for ISRO's human space flight programme.