The government has reduced the uplink charges of Bangabandhu Satellite-1 for foreign television channels by 15 times to attract more clients as it still has huge untapped potential.
According to the landing rights guidelines for broadcast satellites, foreign satellite television channels had to pay Tk 3.0 million annually to uplink from Bangladesh through the ground segment facilities of Bangladesh Satellite Company Limited (BSCL),
the operator of Bangbandhu satellite. The charges were fixed at Tk 5.0 million for uplinking foreign TV channels from outside Bangladesh through the BS-1.
According to a recent BTRC circular, the charges are now fixed at Tk 200,000 for uplinking from Bangladesh and Tk 300,000 from outside Bangladesh.
"The reduction of charges is to attract foreign TV channels and tap the full potential of BS-1," BSCL Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Shahjahan Mahmood told The Financial Express.
"These reduced charges are effective from this month," he said. Amid criticisms for failure to get expected revenue, the company, in a recent statement, said it has generated around Tk 3.0 billion so far. Currently, the company is earning about Tk 100 million per month.
However, all the income is generated mainly from the domestic market as no foreign television channel was taking broadcasting services from the BSCL due its exorbitant charges.
According to the landing rights guidelines, Bangladeshi satellite TV channels pay Tk 100,000 annually for uplinking through Bangabandhu Satellite.
The entity started making money in June 2019, more than one year after launching the satellite on May 12, 2018 when the state-owned television started taking services from the BS-1.
Later, private satellite television channels subscribed to the BS-1 services and now all local television channels are taking the services.
Initially, the BSCL initiated to lease or rent BS-1's spectrum capacity outside the country by appointing international consultancy firm Thaicom for two years to run the marketing and sales of the connectivity in foreign countries, including the Philippines, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bhutan.
Of the satellite's 40 transponders, 20 were to be sold on the domestic market and 20 in the foreign market.
However, only 15-16 transponders have been sold so far, according to BSCL.
"We are working hard to expand the activity of the Bangabandhu satellite," Mr Mahmood said.
The BS-1 has a 15 years lifetime. So, it has 11 years more to get back the investment of around Tk 27 billion.
At present, the satellite is broadcasting 36 TV channels, including Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar and DTH operator 'Akash'. Two local banks are using the satellite for their ATM services. Talks are also underway with a number of public and private banks.
The BSCL is also providing telecommunication services to 31 distant areas and 112 remote islands.
The company is working to bring satellite services to more disadvantaged people in distant and remote areas, according to the BSCL.
