BENGALURU: The GSAT-6A satellite, similar to the GSAT-6, is a high power S-band communication satellite configured around I-2K bus. These were the satellites around which the controversial deal between ISRO’s commercial arm Antrix Corporation and Bengaluru-based Devas Multimedia Ltd led to cases against some senior and reputed ISRO scientists.
In January 2005, Antrix signed a $300 million deal with Devas allowing the latter to use 90% of the satellites’ transponders for digital multimedia services for over a decade after both the satellites were in service. These transponders in the S-band were primarily meant for strategic purposes of the country’s military and security forces. The sanction was obtained from the Union cabinet as well as the space commission, although without informing that the bulk capacity would be allotted to Devas.
The deal was finally annulled on February 25, 2011, allowing the communication transponders for priority use of the defence for strategic purposes.The GSAT-6 was launched in 2015, while GSAT-6A, which was launched on Thursday, was to complement it.