Bangalore: Private television broadcasters, V-SAT operators, the department of telecom and the Prasar Bharati have booked all transponders in INSAT-3A, India's latest multi-purpose satellite, expected to be fully operational by May 12.

"As far as the satellite (INSAT-3A) is concerned, the booking is full and is overbooked," Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chairman K Kasturirangan said.

INSAT-3A carries 12 C-band, six extended C-band, six Ku band transponders, besides a search and navigation rescue transponder.

"Nine of the 12 C-band transponders have a larger coverage from West Asia to South East Asia intended for television coverage and help TV broadcasters target people of Indian origin in these regions," ISRO satellite centre director Dr P S Goel said.

This initiative has attracted TV broadcasters, who have earlier leased transponder space from satellites of foreign operators.

ISRO's transponder strength has increased to 121 with the addition of 24 from INSAT- 3A, which was shot into space by European rocket Ariane-5 from the spaceport of Kourou in French Guyana in South America on April 10.

"The INSAT co-ordination committee will look into the allocation of transponders. It involves various government departments who will assess the user requirements before allotment," Kasturirangan said.

He said INSAT-3A would reach its designated slot at 93.5 degree in the space on April 24 and after a series of tests would be ready for commercial operations by May 12.

He said GSAT-2, the technology experimental satellite to be launched by the indigenous Geo-Synchronous Launch Vehicle (GSLV-D2) in May, would be sent to the Satish Dhawan launch centre at Sriharikota on April 28.

GSAT-2 will carry four C-band, two Ku-band India beam transponders and one MSS payload.

"Preparations are going on a "feverish pace" for the GSLV launch. Once the satellite is at the launch pad, it has to undergo a series of tests and we should be ready by the first half of May," Kasturirangan said.

He said once the ground handling tests of INSAT-3A is completed, the launch date of GSLV-D2 would be finalised as some of the people in ground station also have to work on GSLV.

PTI