Question : UTILIZATION OF SATELLITES

(a) whether the satellites of Indian Space Research Organisation(ISRO) have contributed in the improvement of telecommunications, distant education, tele-medicines faculties, etc., in the rural and remote areas of the country;

(b) if so,the extent to which the improvements brought by these satellites;

(c) whether any utilization study in respect of satellites has been conducted by the Government; and

(d) if so,the time by which the country is likely to get the maximum facilities through optimum utilization of the satellite-network?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE PRIME MINISTER`S OFFICE, MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES & PENSIONS, MINISTRY OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS , MINISTRY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY AND MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES(SHRI PRITHVIRAJ CHAVAN)

(a) Yes, Sir.

The extent to which the improvements brought by the satellilte include:

(i) Television: Direct To Home (DTH) Satellite Television coverage of 100% area and 100% population;

(ii) Tele-communications About 1.18 Lakh VSATs providing applications like data & video connectivity, ATMs, cellular phon@ back-haul etc.,

(iii) Tele-Education: 55,230 classrooms connected through satellite networking, of which 51321 are Receive Only Terminals (ROTs) and 3909 are Satellite Interactive Terminals (8ITs)catering to all the sectors of education from primary to higher and professional education,and

(iv) Tele-medicine: 59 specialty hospitals connected to 307 remote and rural hospitals and 16 Mobile Vans.

(c) Yes, Sir.

(d) The country is likely to get maximum facilities through additional satellites in a phased manner.