New Delhi:

India’s most advanced satellite that will enable broadband communications named GSAT-20 or GSAT N-2 is expected to be launched on Tuesday aboard Elon Musk’s Falcon 9 rocket, owned by SpaceX. A fully commercial satellite, the GSAT N-2 would enable much-needed in-flight internet for India.

With a takeoff weight of 4,700 kg, the GSAT-N2 will have a mission life of 14 years.

There are many early works associated with this great bird, which took five years to construct.

This is the first time that Indian space agency ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) has launched a SpaceX rocket through its commercial arm New Space India Limited.

This is also the first time that ISRO is building a satellite that uses only the advanced Ka-band frequency, a range of radio frequencies between 27 and 40 gigahertz (GHz), which allows the satellite to have a band higher bandwidth.

Dr M Sankaran, director of the UR Rao Satellite Center in Bangalore, told NDTV, “GSAT-20 is India’s highest throughput satellite.”

According to ISRO, GSAT-N2, equipped with multiple spot beams (satellite signals focused on a specific area of ​​the Earth) and Ka transponders, is expected to improve broadband services and in-flight connectivity across the Indian region.

The satellite is equipped with 32 user beams – including 8 narrow beams – over the northeast region and 24 wide beams over the rest of India. These 32 beams will be supported by central stations located in mainland India.

This is NSIL’s second demand-driven communications satellite. In the first, GSAT N-1, the entire bandwidth was sold to Tata Play.

In GSAT N-2, 80 percent of the capacity was sold to a private player. The remaining 20 percent will also be sold to private players for use in air and maritime services.

Viasat Inc, a leading satellite service operator in the United States, says it will use GSAT-20 capacity to provide air and sea connectivity services in India as it offers “high-speed nose-to-nose connectivity in the tail.” Others are interested in this sector, notably NELCO Ltd.

Radhakrishnan Durairaj, Chairman and Managing Director of New Space India Limited, the commercial arm of ISRO, said, “GSAT N-2 is fully assured.” He hopes that over its 14-year lifespan the satellite will be a source of revenue for the company.

India has opted for satellite data delivery using geostationary satellites, unlike low and mid-Earth constellations like Starlink and OneWeb.

“India’s need for satellite data services is regional in nature and the most cost-effective solution of using large satellites is being adopted,” Sankaran said.

If and when there is a need to provide constellation-based satellite internet, ISRO is technically more than ready.

This will be ISRO’s first commercial launch with SpaceX and experts estimate that NSIL has paid nearly Rs 500 crore for this dedicated launch on a highly reliable Falcon 9 rocket.