Afghanistan seeks India help on DTH services

New Delhi, April 29: After being allocated a transponder from the South Asia Satellite, Afghanistan has requested India for another one which it could use for direct- tohome television services, an official from the department of space has said.

However, unlike the South Asia Satellite or G SAT- 9, which was a “gift” from India to its neighbours and one transponder was allocated to the participating Saarc countries for free, Afghanistan may have to pay for the services this time, the official said.

“They have asked for another transponder and we are looking into it. Unlike in the case of the South Asia Satellite, Afghanistan may be charged for the second transponder. However, no decision has been made in this regard,” the official said, requesting anonymity.

The second transponder may not be from the South Asia Satellite.

In 2014, Afghanistan had launched its satellite AFGHANSAT- 1 for wide- ranging services including DTH, broadcasting and Internet services. The satellite was launched by a French company. But as demand increases, it looks to augment its supply side.

A transponder is a device that receives and transmits signals. It is essential for direct- tohome ( DTH) services.

India and Afghanistan share a robust space cooperation. Last year, after a meeting between external affairs Sushma Swaraj and her Afghan counterpart Salahuddin Rabbani, it was decided that New Delhi will extend assistance to Kabul in the area of remotesensing.

During the 2014 Saarc Summit in Kathmandu, PM Narendra Modi had announced India would be launching a satellite as a gift to its Saarc neighbours.