Agrani to launch satellite service next year

Agrani satellite services, a part of Zee group promoted ASC enterprises, is all set to launch India's first satellite service. The launch is expected to happen in the third quarter of 2004. The company has tied-up with Alcatel, which currently holds 13 percent stake in the company, to provide the infrastructure for the launch.

The company is planning to pump in around Rs 1,150 crore for the service. Alcatel has further, tied-up with another company Ariane Space to put the satellite in orbit. Alcatel would launch the satellite in the Q3 of next year and run it for 30 days. It would then eventually, be handed over to Agrani. The commercial launch is expected in the Q4 of 2004.

The satellite would be operated on two bands namely 24 C band and 14 KU transponder. It would provide customers the telecom backbone, Internet, platform for broadcasting of TV channels, DTH and VSAT. The company is expected to launch DTH on August 15, 2003. Since almost all the TV channels currently use foreign satellite service for uploading of programs, Agrani is eyeing huge revenues coming in from this service. 

The company is aggressively pushing its retail initiative too. Agrani, which currently has 30 retail stores, is planning to open 2,500 stores by 2009. It is also planning to digitize its Radio Trunking service where the company holds monopoly. The company last year, acquired almost all the radio trunking companies that include, Quibkcalls India, Bhilwara Telenet Smart Talk, Procall and Punwire and currently, the service is available under the brand names of Procall and Smartmobile in 18 circles all across the country. 

Agrani is investing around Rs 450 crore in these two initiatives. Ashish Kaul, Agrani Brand Development Group said, "This is the first of its kind of service and we are positioning it as a premium service."

Rahul Gupta

(CNS)