Economics of Satellite Based Education Network for Telecom and IT Sectors
- Paper number
IAC-07-B2.5.06
- Author
Dr. Roop N Bharadwaj, India
- Coauthor
Mr. Atul K Chaudhary, India
- Year
2007
- Abstract
The Satellite Program for education was launched in India for improving flow and availability of information, general awareness and informal education by Department of Space, Government of India through ATS-6 satellite and through deployment of Direct Reception Sets (DRS) across the Country. The success of the experiment resulted in Government of India policies which encouraged the establishment of satellite based systems for training and education. Realizing the economic benefits of satellite based distance education, a number of programs and projects were implemented for imparting formal and informal education in India. Department of Telecommunication (DOT), Ministry of Communication and Information Technology (MOC and IT) implemented Primary Teachers Training Program in the States of Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat in association with UNESCO, ITU, Ministry of Human Resources Development, Government of India, Department of Education, Government of M.P. and Gujarat respectively. The DoT contributed about Rs. 200 Million to provide terrestrial communication using ISD links, dialup links as well as satellite uplinking facility from DoT’s central training center at Jabalpur. The feed via satellite from this station was received at various centers across the country which imparted primary teachers training for both the new teacher as well as for refresher training. Interactive mode between trainee and teachers / instructor was adopted by using both terrestrial links as well as satellite voice uplinks from the remote sites to the training centre at Jabalpur. In this project DOT regional telecom training centers in each state were also connected to DoT’s central training center at Jabalpur via Satellite. The network offered formal higher education for Junior Telecom Officers (JTOs) for both new and old, SDEs as well as DETs in various disciplines of communication. This project is still continuing and proved very beneficial for Telecommunication and IT fraternity of DOT and its service organizations. This network has saved significant cost / funds and valuable time of trainee as well as instructors and was used for organizing large number of participant training programs via satellite systems. This paper describes the salient technical features of this network and the benefits derived.
- Abstract document