India's 'gift' to neighbours

Reinvigorating his 'neighbourhood first' foreign policy, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday announced India will launch the South Asian communication satellite on May 5 and said it will go a long way to address the region's economic and developmental priorities .

Addressing the nation through his monthly radio programme "Mann Ki Baat", he said "the capacities of this satellite and the facilities it provides will go a long way in addressing South Asia's economic and developmental priorities. Natural resources mapping, tele- medicine, the field of education, deeper IT connectivity or fostering people to people contact - this satellite will prove to be a boon in the progress of the entire region."

He said the launch of the satellite "is an important step by India to enhance co-operation with the entire South Asia… it is an invaluable gift. This is an appropriate example of our commitment towards South Asia.

Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka have have agreed to join the Rs 450-crore South Asian satellite project.

The satellite will be launched from Sriharikota island in southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.

The South Asia Satellite is reported to have 12 Ku band transponders with a coverage extending all over the South Asia region which India's neighbours can make use of to enhance communications. Each country will receive access to at least one transponder through which they could beam their own content and programming.

However, each country has to develop its own ground infrastructure technology. India has also offered to extend assistance in this regard.

Modi had at the Saarc Summit held in Kathmandu, Nepal, in November 2014 about the SAARC satellite as "India's gift" for Saarc region.