Even when DoS was able to make available the
capacity on the GSAT-8, which was launched after
a three-year delay, the capacity remained idle till it
was used for other purposes, the report said.
Later, the GSAT-10 satellite was launched to
provide capacity for Tata Sky on Insat4A, but the
company declined the offer. DoS did not allocate
the available capacity to any other provider for fear
of litigation.
Currently, 76 transponders are used by Indian DTH
providers, but only 19 are local. Even Tata Sky
migrated to a foreign provider after using 12 Indian
transponders initially.
The delays by DoS has also led to a shortage of
space above the country for satellites as the empty
orbital space has been occupied by more efficient
foreign satellite providers. Given the high cost of
migrating from one satellite to another, it is
unlikely DTH providers will move back to an India
satellite, the CAG said in its report.
The CAG also said DoS gave undue advantage to
Tata Sky. “Tata Sky was fifth in order of preference
for allocation of satellite capacity. However, Tata
Sky was granted precedence over Doordarshan and
allocate capacity on Insat4A,” the report said.
“Transponder lease agreement entered with Tata
Sky gave certain benefits which were not offered to
any of the other DTH providers.”
A DTH provider needs a minimum of five Ku band
transponders. Indian DTH providers have the
option of using transponders from Indian satellites
as well as foreign providers, according to the
government’s open sky policy. The policy says
DoS has to acquire and provide necessary foreign
transponder capacity for a short term till such time
as domestic capacity becomes available.
