2. DEVAS MULTIMEDIA PVT.LTD.
•Devas Multimedia Pvt. Ltd. (Devas), an
Indian company headquartered in
Bangalore, was founded in 2004 by a team
of successful satellite entrepreneurs and
executives.
•Devas has led indigenous innovation in the
arena of satellite communications and
technologies to establish a next-generation
national satellite system that provides vital
services to the masses and government
agencies across India.
•Devas’ integrated satellite system ensures
seamless connectivity throughout India.
3. INDIAN SPACE RESEARCH
ORGANISATION(ISRO)
•Indian Space programme born in the church
beginning, space activities in the
country, concentrated on achieving self reliance and
developing capability to build and launch
communication satellites for television
broadcast, telecommunications and meteorological
applications; remote sensing satellites for
management of natural resources.
•The objective of ISRO is to develop space
technology and its application to various national
tasks. ISRO has established two major space
systems, INSAT for communication, television
broadcasting and meteorological services, and
Indian Remote Sensing Satellites (IRS) system for
resources monitoring and management.
4. CAG SMELLS A BIGGER SCAM IN S-BAND
SPECTRUM ALLOCATION
•Even before the 2G spectrum
allocation scam gets unraveled in its
entirety, the Comptroller and Auditor
General (CAG) is said to be
suspecting another, bigger than
2G, scam in the allocation of S-band
spectrum.
•The CAG is enquiring into a 2005
agreement between the Indian Space
Research Organisation’s (ISRO)
commercial arm Antrix Corporation
Ltd and Devas Multimedia Private Ltd
relating to the allocation of S-band
broadband spectrum to the latter
without the invitation of competitive
bids.
5. •The dubious allocation of spectrum is said to have caused a loss of Rs
2 lakh crore to the national exchequer.
•The company that allegedly benefited from the deal, Devas
Multimedia, is headed by Dr M.G. Chandrashekhar, who was earlier
scientific secretary at ISRO.
•Under the deal, Devas Multimedia is to get access to 70 MHz of
broadband spectrum in the 2500 MHz band. This was once used by
Doordarshan to deliver programmes by satellite to all parts of the
country.
6. •There are no restrictions on Devas Multimedia for onward leasing of
spectrum. That means the company could make huge amounts of
money by sub-leasing its privileges.
This is said to be the first time that S-band, which ranges from 2500 to
2690 MHz, has been opened up to the private sector.
•The PM’s Office, the Cabinet, and the Space Commission were not
fully informed about the contract, including the underestimation of
ISRO’s cost.
•According to the reports it’s a huge loss to the government as compare
to the 2G spectrum scam.
7. CONCLUSION:
•According to reports Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO)
Chairman Dr K Radhakrishnan said the agreements entered into by
Devas and Antrix caused no loss to the Government.
•Radhakrishnan said that the Devas- Antrix agreements was already
under review and the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) has already
clarified that no decision has been taken on it.
•Radhakrishnan says as the deal was not actualized so there is “no
question of revenue loss arrived”.
•In July 2010 meeting, the PMO has decided to review the agreement
and the matter was referred to Space Commission.
