SupremeSAT (PVT) LTD

SupremeSAT

SupremeSAT logo
Established October 25, 2011
Headquarters Colombo, Sri Lanka
Primary spaceport Xi-Chang, China
Budget US$ 320 million[1]
Website www.supremesat.com

SupremeSAT (Pvt) Ltd. became the first and only satellite operator of Sri Lanka by signing an investment agreement with the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka on 23 May 2012, with an investment target of over USD 320 Million. SupremeSAT is planning to launch Sri Lanka's first communications satellite into the country's planned orbital slot of 50 degrees east. The satellite which will be called SupremeSAT-III will be providing all types of telecommunications services to Sri Lanka as well as to the rest of Asia, Middle East and East Africa.

As a part of Supreme Group, SupremeSAT has now entered into an exclusive partnership agreement with China's state owned China Great Wall Industry Corporation for the design, manufacture and launch of the Satellite. SupremeSAT further plans to set up a satellite earth station in Sri Lanka and will also move forward with the plan to create South Asia's most sophisticated "Space City" consisting a "Space Academy" for the benefit of young Sri Lankans who wish to play a key role in the global space arena.

History

Sri Lanka has been trying to get in to the space arena for many years by launching its own satellite. Although many notable efforts were made in this regard especially with the presence of Sir Arthur C. Clarke being a resident of Sri Lanka, the most significant effort was the signing of the valid contract between the government of Sri Lanka and UK based Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTC) in the year 2009.

The said contract was on the basis that the government of Sri Lanka invests in the project 100% with SSTL doing the design, manufacture and launching of the satellite. However this drew a lot of public criticism as well as political issues since the investment was made by the government even though the country’s total satellite revenue will not be even 30% of the total project cost.

The contract was therefore scrapped and a notable change in the country’s decision making body, related to the telecommunications industry– The Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRC) was made, by way of the replacement of its Director General. There was a long silence ever since, with the clear policy of the government, that no state money would be spent on a space venture. However, in the year 2012, H.E The President – Mahinda Rajapaksa gave the approval to re launch the venture with private sector participation and instructed the TRC to give the approvals to a private company – SupremeSAT (Pvt) Ltd., - A Board of Investment approved company with an investment commitment of over USD 300 Million.

SupremeSAT- I (Co Branded Satellite)

SupremeSAT-I was launched on June 21, 2011 on board a Chinese LM-3B launch vehicle and positioned at the orbital slot of 110.5°E. It provides commercial communications services with thirty C-band and sixteen Ku-band transponders. SupremeSAT-I is designed to serve the demands of communication, satellite broadcasting, data transmission, digital broadband multimedia system and media streaming services in China and other countries in West and South Asia.

{image of SupremeSAT-I system characteristics}

SupremeSAT – II (Co Branded Satellite)

SupremeSAT (Pvt) Ltd. has secured an exclusive agreement to invest and co-brand another satellite which China Satellite Communications Co. Ltd. plans to launch. This is - Chinasat 11, which will be co-branded as SupremeSAT-II SupremeSAT-II will be launched in mid 2013 and will help us secure a greater market share since this satellite will have KU band capacity as well.

(image of SupremeSAT-II system characteristics)

SupremeSAT -3

With a plan for a mega investment of USD 300 million, this will be the satellite fully owned by SupremeSAT (Pvt) Ltd. Subject to the approvals of the TRC and the design / manufacturing process, we plan to launch SupremeSAT-III into 50°E orbital slot by December 2015 and shift the businesses from SupremeSAT-I and SupremeSAT-II to this Satellite.

{image of SupremeSAT-III system characteristics}

Teleport Facility

SupremeSAT (Pvt) Ltd has invested USD 10 million further and established teleport facilities to manage SupremeSAT satellites. Proposed site for the ground facilities is located in Pallekele-Kandy.


Services Provided

Current Status

SupremeSAT is currently having 02 co-branded satellites with C & Extended C band transponders. And also is planning to part own two more satellites consolidating its south Asian market share (to be launched in end November 2012 & mid June 2013) and will launch its fully owned satellite into 50E in December 2015 – The design, manufacture, launch contract is already signed and the design stage is currently undergoing in Beijing. In addition the company has laid the foundation stone for its space academy in Pallekele-Kandy (Ceremony headed by China’s Vice Minister of Industries and Information Technology Mr.Chen Qiufa)

References

  1. "Lanka’s first satellite company launched" on Daily News Newspaper. http://www.dailynews.lk/2012/05/24/bus01.asp
  2. "Sri Lanka’s first satellite venture takes shape with Chinese expertise" on Daily FT Web Site http://www.ft.lk/2012/05/24/sri-lankas-first-satellite-venture-takes-shape-with-chinese-expertise/
  3. " SL to launch first satellite" on Daily Mirror News Paper http://www.dailymirror.lk/news/18857-sl-launch-first-satellite-.html
  4. "Sri Lanka enters satellite age" on news.lk website http://www.news.lk/news/sri-lanka/2194-sri-lanka-enters-satellite-age
  5. "SL space academy ready to blast off with Chinese expertise" on Sunday Times news paper. http://www.sundaytimes.lk/120729/business-times/sl-space-academy-ready-to-blast-off-with-chinese-expertise-6974.html
  6. Historic 'Space Academy' launched in Kandy on Daily News news paper http://www.dailynews.lk/2012/08/17/bus25.asp
  7. "Historic ‘Space Academy’ launched" on The Island news paper. http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=59527
  8. "Lanka to own communication satellite by 2015" on Daily News news paper http://www.dailynews.lk/2012/08/16/bus01.asp
  1. ↑ dailynews.lk
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