Transponders In A Trance

With many VSAT service providers and DTH players are talking about how
shortage of transponders is affecting their business, the satellite channel
owners think otherwise. In a interview with Sandeep Budki from VOICE&DATA, Amitabh
Kumar, president- Technology, DishTV and K Krishna, Senior director - Marketing,
Hughes Communication present their views and counter views.

What is the present usage of transponder capacity by your company?

AK: We have a capacity of 11x36 MHz equivalent transponder units of
capacity.

KK: We use approximately four transponders.

How is shortage of transponders effecting your existing operations?

AK: Dish TV uses very efficient compression technologies, which helps us
place an equivalent of 16 channels per 36 MHz. We are able to achieve this
without any degradation of quality because of the following reasons:- Our
transponders are a mix of 36 MHz and 54 MHz transponders. By operating larger
bandwidth transponders (54 MHz) we are able to do a better statistical
multiplexing. (Statistical multiplexing is a process of sharing of bandwidth
amongst a large no of channels as a pool. It is more efficient larger the
bandwidth). The satellite NSS6 has automatic loop control (ALC), which corrects
the satellite-transmitted power by up to 15 dB (300 times) in case of any
degradation due to rain or storms in the uplink signal. Hence the satellite
always transmits at maximum power. This enables us to maintain high compression
as well as signal degradations, which would otherwise have a detrimental effect.
At present no other operator has these twin advantages of 54 MHz transponders
(which give better statistical multiplexing) and ALC on satellite, which permits
us to retain high efficiency even in case of rain.

KK: The transponder shortage in the existing satellites is forcing us
to build additional earth stations and this is not a very economical step. Even
though the crunch has not affected us today, but if this continues it would
seriously hamper our growth plans.

What
are your plans for the future?

AK: We have been constantly adding new channels at our platform. Last month
we added 8 new channels and 4 days ago we added Star Cricket on our channel. We
will be taking up the number of channel up to 200 by this year-end.

KK: This is company confidential and I would like to refrain from
answering.

Is there a shortage of transponders?

AK: We are at present not witnessing any shortage of transponder. It is
evident from the fact that we have been adding channels on regular basis for our
subscribers and at present we are the only platform offering 170 channels.

KK: Space segment is a resource that needs a lot of planning by
various agencies and by the satellite operators. To get a payload in orbit is a
two to three year effort. In the past satellite operators have had unutilized
capacity due to uncertain regulatory scenario. Presently most of them have not
planned for capacity due to this reason. When the DTH option was opened, the DTH
operators booked a number of transponders. This has led to a crunch. To add to
this, the failure of INSAT 4C launch has also added to the problem.

What are the probable measures that can ease the problem?

KK: ISRO is planning an alternate spacecraft to INSAT 4C named as INSAT 4CR.
This should ease the situation a little bit. Going forward, ISRO should induct
other foreign spacecrafts into its fleet for offering bandwidth to VSAT
operators. This would further ease the situation.

Sandeep Budki

sandeepb@cybermedia.co.in