To boost Internet speed, ISRO to launch 3 GSATs in next 18 months

“You are already witnessing a change in the communication technology where voice and video communications are taking place through Internet. With future launches, television will be viewed through Internet using wireless Technology,” Misra said.

High-throughput satellites have been a gamechanger in the developed countries, providing Internet connectivity many times faster, smoother and cheaper.

“The effective data rate of GSAT satellites is one gigabyte per second. GSAT-19 will be able to transfer data at four gigabyte per second, thus making it equivalent to four satellites,” he said.

“One of the heaviest satellites ever to be built by ISRO — GSAT-11 — is scheduled to be launched in January 2018. It will have a data rate of 14 gigabyte per second. We plan to launch GSAT-20 by the end of next year. We plan to cover the entire nation with a satellite that will offer a data rate of 70 gigabyte per second. This is in sync with the requirement of high data-rate transmission needed by smart cities,” the ISRO scientist said.

GSAT-19 will also mark the first of three, full-fledged tests of GSLV Mark-III launcher (ISRO’s heaviest rocket) before it is officially declared operational. It will also test the new 25 tonne cryogenic engine which is three times bigger than the ones used earlier.

High-throughput satellite reuses satellite “beams” (signal) several times over smaller areas. In contrast, traditional satellite technology utilises a broad single beam to cover wide regions. “Till now communication satellites used a single beam to cover the entire country.

GSAT-19 will use eight narrow beams. GSAT-11 will have 16 beams. The narrow the beams, more is the power (sent by the antennas located on the satellite),” Misra added.