Myanmar`s very own satellite was successfully launched into orbit on Wednesday after two years of planning. The nation will see improved and faster communications as a result, primarily in far-flung areas.

Arianespace, the French service provider, was able to successfully launch two satellites ? the Intelsat 39/ Myanmar Sat 2 and EDRS-C, from the Guiana Space Center, Europe`s spaceport in French Guiana, a French territory in South America.

Intelsat 39, manufactured in Maxar Technologies, steerable beams will offer additional flexibility, enabling customers to rapidly reposition their service to respond to changing application or geographic requirements, the company said in a statement.

The Ministry of Transport and Communications (MOTC) will receive C- and Ku-band services from the satellite in the fourth quarter of 2019, which will assist in advancing its goal to ensure that 95 percent of the population could utilise broadband connectivity by 2022, said Terry Bleakley, Intelsat`s regional vice president, Asia Pacific.

By assimilating the satellite services into Myanmar`s mobile networks, MOTC will be able to dramatically boost network bandwith, speed, and reliability when it expands into far-flung areas. Moreover, the satellite will be able to fulfill e-government requirements, provide critical e-banking services and information across Myanmar, added Mr Bleakley.

In an interview with state media last week, U Win Aung, chief engineer of the Ministry of Transport and Communications` Information Technology and Cyber Security Department, said that communications can be established quickly in case of a natural disaster where vital information can be shared dramatically increasing the success rate of rescue works.

"As we are able to manage and operate our own satellite frequency, it would increase the nation`s GDP from 3 percent to 5pc," U Win Aung said.

A 13-member committee led by Vice President U Myint Swe on establishing the satellite system has been discussing since 2017 the implementation of the satellite system. The country will pay a total sum of US$155.7 million for Myanmar Sat 2.

Myanmar is currently leasing satellite channels from the US, China, Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia for more than US$10 million annually.

Governmental ministries and private companies will be able to utilise the Myanmar Sat 2`s solutions starting October.

https://www.mmtimes.com/news/myanmars-very-own-satellite-now-orbit.html

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