Bangalore: Major telecom service providers including Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) have booked transponder space in INSAT-3A, the multi-purpose satellite, which was successfully launched on April 10.

"Even some private telecom service providers, besides BSNL have booked transponder space for their communication purposes. There are discussions with some others," sources in Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said.

However, the sources declined to name the firms and the cost of hiring the transponders.

INSAT-3A, the third in the INSAT 3 series, is a multi-purpose satellite for providing telecommunications, television broadcasting, meteorological, and search and rescue operations.

It carries 24 transponders, including 12 operating in the normal C-band frequency, six in Extended C-band and six in Ku-band.

Nine of the 12 normal C-band transponders provide expanded coverage and the remaining three have India coverage beam.

All the extended C-band as well as the Ku-band transponders have India coverage beams, ISRO officials said.

INSAT is the largest domestic communication system in the Asia-Pacific Region.

It now comprises six satellites, INSAT-2DT, INSAT-2E, INSAT-3A, INSAT-3B, INSAT-3C and METSAT, with a total capacity of over 100 transponders in C, Extended C and Ku- bands besides meteorological instruments, officials added.

PTI