Will the Minister of SPACE be pleased to state:-

(a) whether Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) followed laid down procedure for allocation of S-band spectrum to a private company;

(b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;

(c) the extent to which the private company has benefited as a result of the said allocation; and

(d) the remedial steps taken by the Government to avoid recurrence of such irregularities?
ANSWER: MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRIES OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS, PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES & PENSIONS AND IN PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE (SHRI V.NARAYANASAMY):

(a) & (b) ISRO has not allocated any S-band spectrum to any private company. However, M/s Antrix Corporation Limited, the commercial arm of ISRO/DOS, had entered into an agreement with M/s. DEVAS Multimedia Private Limited in January 2005, for leasing part of the space segment capacity in S-band on two geostationary satellites, as per the provisions under the Satcom Policy.

(c) The private company has not benefitted from this agreement as the satellite has not yet been launched and hence the use of S- band transponder capacity by the company did not arise. Meanwhile, the Central Government had directed to annul the Antrix-Devas Agreement. Antrix Corporation has accordingly served a notice of termination on Devas Multimedia Pvt. Ltd., on 25.2.2011.

(d) The Central Government has constituted a High Powered Committee to review the technical, commercial, procedural and financial aspects of the agreement between ANTRIX and M/s Devas Multimedia Pvt., Ltd , to suggest corrective measures and to fix responsibility for any lapses, if any. The Committee will also review the adequacy of procedures and approval processes and suggest improvements and changes. The report of the committee is awaited.

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