The Hindu Business Line : BPCL studying scope of leasing satellite for DTH

BHARAT Petroleum Corporation Ltd is studying the feasibility of leasing out satellite time to television companies for relaying television signals through DTH (direct-to-home) broadcasting services in India.

"Someone had sent us a proposal (about leasing the satellite). We have the basic technology. And we would like to see if we can leverage it. But the project is at a preliminary stage," a senior BPCL official told Business Line.

The company uses a VSAT (very small aperture terminal) at Noida, to read information regarding inventory status, relayed through satellite signals, as part of its disaster management and ERP systems.

While some of the analysts tracking the sector expressed doubts about the technical limitations of beaming in TV programmes through a VSAT, the company is understood to be weighing options on ramping up the existing infrastructure to meet the requirements of DTH broadcasting.

Most of the company's operations take place during the day.

As the peak traffic for television signals begins only towards the evening and picks up momentum through the night, the company could lease its satellite to broadcasters during those hours, it is felt.

Although the proposal has not been placed before the board of directors, officials are studying the technical and economic feasibility of such a move. The company may shortly appoint consultants to carry out feasibility studies of such a move, the official said.

"DTH services offered by Zee's Dish TV have already attracted more than a lakh customers. And the market is expected to expand once Star TV launches Space TV, its joint venture DTH platform with the Tatas; and Doordarshan introduces its own platform later this month," said an entertainment sector analyst.

Also, the Government is said to be working on reducing both spectrum and licence fee for VSAT and DTH operators.

However, BPCL officials agreed that the diversification plan may take a while to be implemented with the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas sending a clear message to the public sector oil majors that they must concentrate on their areas of "core competence."

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