Bangabandhu-1 and its uses

This satellite will bring enormous development and uninterrupted telecommunication system in Bangladesh especially in television, telephone and internet service

Bangladesh has been advancing very rapidly through the applications of ICT and digital technologyand nation feels proud to see the vision of creating  Sonar Bangla. The Bangabandhu-1 (BD-1) is the first Bangladesh geostationary communication satellite . It was launched on May 11  2018.

A SpaceX Falcon-9,  a rocket lifted the 3-5 metric ton Bangabandhu-1 communication satellite and breached on its orbit after its perfect and successful launching  making Bangladesh’s debut in global space society. Most of the people are very much interested to know about the satellite- how it works and how it is used. Some fundamental mechanisms of radio communication are necessary to  explain for the general people .

There are three types of radio communication system used in sending and receiving radio signal. Our objects inthe form of optical/voice, video and datacapture  converted into digital signals through electronic  devices (microphone, camera, computer and data capture system) are amplified then  send to the receiver to reproduce the original signal/messages. If we want to send those signals at far distances then we need a carrier frequency (higher) to carry those signals from sender to receiver point. After reaching to the receiving point, the carrier frequency is rejected and actual signal is reproduced. Objects converted into electrical (modulating) signal is mixed with carrier frequency to form modulated signal.It’s power is then amplified and transmitted in free space in the form of Electromagnetic wave.

Three types of Radio propagationwave are :

1. Ground Wave     2. Space Wave     3. Ionospheric Wave

Ground Wave: Ground wave is low frequencycarrier wave (up to 2 MHz) and propagates considerable distances gliding over the surface of the Earth from the transmitter to the receiver. This wave is used in AM radio communication purpose.

The satellite can have a passive role in communications like bouncing signals from the Earth back to another location on the Earth; on the other hand, some satellites carry electronic devices called transponders for receiving, amplifying, and re-broadcasting signals to the Earth.

Communications satellites are often in geostationary orbit. At the high orbital altitude of 35,800 kilometers, a geostationary satellite orbits the Earth in the same amount of time it takes the Earth to revolve once. From Earth, therefore, the satellite appears to be stationary, always above the same area of the Earth. The area to which it can transmit is called a satellite's footprint. For example, many Canadian communications satellites have a footprint which covers most of Canada.

Communications satellites can also be in highly elliptical orbits. This type of orbit is roughly egg-shaped, with the Earth near the top of the egg. In a highly elliptical orbit, the satellite's velocity changes depending on where it is in its orbital path. When the satellite is in the part of its orbit that's close to the Earth, it moves faster because the Earth's gravitational pull is stronger. This means that a communications satellite can be over the region of the Earth which communicatesconnecting the long part of its orbit. It will only be out of contact with that region when it quickly zips close by the Earth.

In 1957 the Soviet Union launched the world’s first artificial satellite, Sputnik-1. Since then, about 8000 satellites from 54 countries have been launched.

Approx. 700 operational satellites are in low-Earth Orbit, 80 are in medium Earth-Orbit (at 20,000 Km) and the rest are in geostationary orbits (at 36,000 Km) or geosynchronous orbits.

The satellite will expand Ku-band coverage over all of Bangladesh and its nearby waters including the Bay of Bengal, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, and Indonesia. This is coupled with C-band coverage for all aforementioned areas.

Initially the GEO satellite placed 1200 apart in free space can cover the whole surface area over the surface of the Earth. Now a days more than few thousand satellites are available in free space for radio communication purpose.

Thruster:A way of controlling a satellite's attitude. Thrusters usually contain compressed gas that when sent out of the end of the thruster will move the satellite in space. The force of the compressed gas (the action) causes the satellite to move in the opposite direction (the reaction). This is Newton's third law of motion - for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.

An instrument used on communication satellites that receives a signal from a station on Earth at one frequency, amplifies it, and shifts it to a new frequency.

Altitude Classifications :

LEO – from 180 Km – 2000 Km (1,200 mi), MEO – from 2000 Km (1,200 mi) – 35,786 Km (22,236 mi)

Geosynchronous (GEO) from 35,786 Km (22,236 mi),Speed 3000 m/s, HEO – Altitude same as GEO .

This satellite will bring enormous development and uninterrupted telecommunication system in Bangladesh especially in television, telephone and internet service which Bangladesh usually purchase from overseas.

At present Bangladesh is spending annually millions of dolaron satellite rent to ensure connectivity of televisions, radio, telephone and internet. So the satellite will make Bangladesh self contained and Bangladesh will also earn some foreign currency by broadcasting service.

India and Pakistan have their own satellites, SriLanka is trying to have one.

So Bangladesh can rent services to Nepal, Myanmar or Bhutan and earn few million dollars per year.

Finally communication system of Bangladesh will get new progression of development.  This satellite will give Bangladesh a long term service to a large stability, global availability, reliability & super performance.

Some sectors like telemedicine, e-learning, e-research, video-conferencing, defense& disaster management system will be improved for this satellite in Bangladesh.

The primary service  area(PSA) : Bangabandhu-1 satellite may be in a position to earn a good amount of foreign currency by leasing out half of its capacity to SAARC nations as well as countries like Indonesia, the Philippines, Tankmenistan, Kyrgyztan and Tajikistan, if the frequencies are properly coordinated.

The satellite will narrow the digital divide, as it will help take broadcast and telecom services to rural areas, and allow the launch of some lucrative ventures like direct-to-home services throughout the country.

Bangabandhu-1 (BD-1 BS-1) : Status: moving, Position: 119 E (119.1 0 E)

Operator : Bangladesh Communication satellite, Company Limited (BCSCL), Launch date: 11/05/2018

Launch Site : Cape Canaveral, Launch Vehicle : Falcon- 9 v 1.2, Launch Mass (Kg): 3600

Manufacturer : Thales Alenia space, Orbit : GEO, Expected life time : 15+ years.

14 C-band and 26 Ku-band transponders to provide Ku-band coverage for Bangladesh and its territorial waters in the Bay of Bengal, India, Nepal, Bhutan, SriLanka, the Philippines and Indonesia as well as C-Band capacity for the entire region.

Types of services:Broadcasting, telecommunications and data communications. The TV and radio stations operating in Bangladesh currently depend on satellites of other countries for broadcast. But 26 of transponders are Ku-band, with which it is difficult for TV channels to broadcast the local TV stations and regularly interested in using the remaining 14 transponders in C-band.The total capacity of its 40 transponders is 1600MHz but Bangladesh will be able to use 1400MHz.Using frequency for the internet will also be costly.

Bangabandhu-1 satellite will not cover all the areas and so the local TV stations may not be interested in buying its transponders. It will be possible to rent the transponders to satellite companies that do not have coverage in the areas covered by Bangabandhu-1.

It may take two months to control its operation. It will take 10 days for completing the launch and early orbit phase, and 20 days for satellite in orbit phase.

Multidimensional application areasofICT  as mentioned inmypreviously reported articles (“R I Sharif,Application areas of ICT, The Daily Star, 13 January 2008 & Dr. Rafiqul Islam Sharif,Jugantor, 24 April, 2018, p-4”)may be implemented with the help of Bangabandhu-1 satellite. Open and distance learning education system may be improved further. So many students of all ages will get opportunities to attend world ranking universities which are offering dual modes of education system. Learners will attend online classes regularly and then appear on-line examination. As a result uniform teaching and learning can be maintained. On-line foreign job service may be obtained and they can attend office duties regularly staying in Bangladesh.

At present we are using  hired satellite for internet, TV channels, weather, space research, global on line higher education, defense science, Telecommunications, poverty elimination, telemedicine, global resource sharing, Open source facilities, global financial transactions, etc.

Groundstationsof the existing satellite (hired) are in Gazipur and Betbunia.

A new dimension is opened for Bangladesh and our talented young generation will be able to use their brain to explore all possible applications of ICT through Bangabandhu-1 satellite. All people of Bangladesh are showing honour, respect and above all love to our beloved Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for the rapid implementation of her mission and vision in making Sonar Bangla for the people and of the people.

The writer is Vice Chancellor,  University of Development Alternative (UODA)

Bangabandhu-1 and its uses

This satellite will bring enormous development and uninterrupted telecommunication system in Bangladesh especially in television, telephone and internet service

Bangladesh has been advancing very rapidly through the applications of ICT and digital technologyand nation feels proud to see the vision of creating Sonar Bangla. The Bangabandhu-1 (BD-1) is the first Bangladesh geostationary communication satellite . It was launched on May 11 2018. A SpaceX Falcon-9, a rocket lifted the 3-5 metric ton Bangabandhu-1 communication satellite and breached on its orbit after its perfect and successful launching making Bangladeshs debut in global space society. Most of the people are very much interested to know about the satellite- how it works and how it is used. Some fundamental mechanisms of radio communication are necessary to explain for the general people . There are three types of radio communication system used in sending and receiving radio signal. Our objects inthe form of optical/voice, video and datacapture converted into digital signals through electronic devices (microphone, camera, computer and data capture system) are amplified then send to the receiver to reproduce the original signal/messages. If we want to send those signals at far distances then we need a carrier frequency (higher) to carry those signals from sender to receiver point. After reaching to the receiving point, the carrier frequency is rejected and actual signal is reproduced. Objects converted into electrical (modulating) signal is mixed with carrier frequency to form modulated signal.Its power is then amplified and transmitted in free space in the form of Electromagnetic wave. Three types of Radio propagationwave are : 1. Ground Wave 2. Space Wave 3. Ionospheric Wave Ground Wave: Ground wave is low frequencycarrier wave (up to 2 MHz) and propagates considerable distances gliding over the surface of the Earth from the transmitter to the receiver. This wave is used in AM radio communication purpose. The satellite can have a passive role in communications like bouncing signals from the Earth back to another location on the Earth; on the other hand, some satellites carry electronic devices called transponders for receiving, amplifying, and re-broadcasting signals to the Earth. Communications satellites are often in geostationary orbit. At the high orbital altitude of 35,800 kilometers, a geostationary satellite orbits the Earth in the same amount of time it takes the Earth to revolve once. From Earth, therefore, the satellite appears to be stationary, always above the same area of the Earth. The area to which it can transmit is called a satellites footprint. For example, many Canadian communications satellites have a footprint which covers most of Canada. Communications satellites can also be in highly elliptical orbits. This type of orbit is roughly egg-shaped, with the Earth near the top of the egg. In a highly elliptical orbit, the satellites velocity changes depending on where it is in its orbital path. When the satellite is in the part of its orbit thats close to the Earth, it moves faster because the Earths gravitational pull is stronger. This means that a communications satellite can be over the region of the Earth which communicatesconnecting the long part of its orbit. It will only be out of contact with that region when it quickly zips close by the Earth. In 1957 the Soviet Union launched the worlds first artificial satellite, Sputnik-1. Since then, about 8000 satellites from 54 countries have been launched. Approx. 700 operational satellites are in low-Earth Orbit, 80 are in medium Earth-Orbit (at 20,000 Km) and the rest are in geostationary orbits (at 36,000 Km) or geosynchronous orbits. The satellite will expand Ku-band coverage over all of Bangladesh and its nearby waters including the Bay of Bengal, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, and Indonesia. This is coupled with C-band coverage for all aforementioned areas. Initially the GEO satellite placed 1200 apart in free space can cover the whole surface area over the surface of the Earth. Now a days more than few thousand satellites are available in free space for radio communication purpose. Thruster:A way of controlling a satellites attitude. Thrusters usually contain compressed gas that when sent out of the end of the thruster will move the satellite in space. The force of the compressed gas (the action) causes the satellite to move in the opposite direction (the reaction). This is Newtons third law of motion - for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. An instrument used on communication satellites that receives a signal from a station on Earth at one frequency, amplifies it, and shifts it to a new frequency. Altitude Classifications : LEO from 180 Km 2000 Km (1,200 mi), MEO from 2000 Km (1,200 mi) 35,786 Km (22,236 mi) Geosynchronous (GEO) from 35,786 Km (22,236 mi),Speed 3000 m/s, HEO Altitude same as GEO . This satellite will bring enormous development and uninterrupted telecommunication system in Bangladesh especially in television, telephone and internet service which Bangladesh usually purchase from overseas. At present Bangladesh is spending annually millions of dolaron satellite rent to ensure connectivity of televisions, radio, telephone and internet. So the satellite will make Bangladesh self contained and Bangladesh will also earn some foreign currency by broadcasting service. India and Pakistan have their own satellites, SriLanka is trying to have one. So Bangladesh can rent services to Nepal, Myanmar or Bhutan and earn few million dollars per year. Finally communication system of Bangladesh will get new progression of development. This satellite will give Bangladesh a long term service to a large stability, global availability, reliability super performance. Some sectors like telemedicine, e-learning, e-research, video-conferencing, defense disaster management system will be improved for this satellite in Bangladesh. The primary service area(PSA) : Bangabandhu-1 satellite may be in a position to earn a good amount of foreign currency by leasing out half of its capacity to SAARC nations as well as countries like Indonesia, the Philippines, Tankmenistan, Kyrgyztan and Tajikistan, if the frequencies are properly coordinated. The satellite will narrow the digital divide, as it will help take broadcast and telecom services to rural areas, and allow the launch of some lucrative ventures like direct-to-home services throughout the country. Bangabandhu-1 (BD-1 BS-1) : Status: moving, Position: 119 E (119.1 0 E) Operator : Bangladesh Communication satellite, Company Limited (BCSCL), Launch date: 11/05/2018 Launch Site : Cape Canaveral, Launch Vehicle : Falcon- 9 v 1.2, Launch Mass (Kg): 3600 Manufacturer : Thales Alenia space, Orbit : GEO, Expected life time : 15+ years. 14 C-band and 26 Ku-band transponders to provide Ku-band coverage for Bangladesh and its territorial waters in the Bay of Bengal, India, Nepal, Bhutan, SriLanka, the Philippines and Indonesia as well as C-Band capacity for the entire region. Types of services:Broadcasting, telecommunications and data communications. The TV and radio stations operating in Bangladesh currently depend on satellites of other countries for broadcast. But 26 of transponders are Ku-band, with which it is difficult for TV channels to broadcast the local TV stations and regularly interested in using the remaining 14 transponders in C-band.The total capacity of its 40 transponders is 1600MHz but Bangladesh will be able to use 1400MHz.Using frequency for the internet will also be costly. Bangabandhu-1 satellite will not cover all the areas and so the local TV stations may not be interested in buying its transponders. It will be possible to rent the transponders to satellite companies that do not have coverage in the areas covered by Bangabandhu-1. It may take two months to control its operation. It will take 10 days for completing the launch and early orbit phase, and 20 days for satellite in orbit phase. Multidimensional application areasofICT as mentioned inmypreviously reported articles (R I Sharif,Application areas of ICT, The Daily Star, 13 January 2008 Dr. Rafiqul Islam Sharif,Jugantor, 24 April, 2018, p-4)may be implemented with the help of Bangabandhu-1 satellite. Open and distance learning education system may be improved further. So many students of all ages will get opportunities to attend world ranking universities which are offering dual modes of education system. Learners will attend online classes regularly and then appear on-line examination. As a result uniform teaching and learning can be maintained. On-line foreign job service may be obtained and they can attend office duties regularly staying in Bangladesh. At present we are using hired satellite for internet, TV channels, weather, space research, global on line higher education, defense science, Telecommunications, poverty elimination, telemedicine, global resource sharing, Open source facilities, global financial transactions, etc. Groundstationsof the existing satellite (hired) are in Gazipur and Betbunia. A new dimension is opened for Bangladesh and our talented young generation will be able to use their brain to explore all possible applications of ICT through Bangabandhu-1 satellite. All people of Bangladesh are showing honour, respect and above all love to our beloved Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for the rapid implementation of her mission and vision in making Sonar Bangla for the people and of the people. The writer is Vice Chancellor, University of Development Alternative (UODA)