Bangabandhu satellite deal inked with French firm

The telecom regulator has signed a Tk 1951.75 crore deal with Thales Alenia Space, awarding the French company a work order for commercial and broadcast satellite Bangabandhu-1.
The deal was signed between Shahjahan Mahmood, chairman of Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC); and Jean-Loïc Galle, chairman and chief executive officer of the French space agency, at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka this morning.
Tarana Halim, state minister for post and telecommunication, and Imran Ahmed, president of parliamentary standing committee on post, telecommunication and information technology ministry, attended the programme as chief and special guests.

“This contract is a final step towards fulfillment of our long cherished dream of launching the first satellite of Bangladesh “Bangabandhu Satellite – I,” the state minister said in her speech.
“I feel proud to mention that with the launch of Bangabandhu Satellite, Bangladesh will become the 57th member of the exclusive club of satellite owning country, Tarana added.
Among others, French Ambassador Sophie Aubert was present at the programme.  
On October 20, the cabinet purchase committee approved a proposal in favour of Thales Alenia at a price of $248 million (about Tk 1,951 crore), which will be used for telecommunication and broadcast purposes, as all other participants became non-responsive during the bidding process.
Two US companies Boeing and Orbital, Canada's MDA Corporation and Chinese company China Great Wall Industry Corporation were all running for the bid initially.
The government wants to launch the satellite on December 16, 2017, marking the country's 45th Victory Day, said a senior official of BTRC.
On January 15, the government purchased a 119.1 east longitude orbital slot from Russia-based Intersputnik for 15 years at a cost of Tk 218.96 crore.