(1 September 2005 9:00 pm)

MUMBAI: Tata Sky, the 80:20 joint venture between the Tatas and Rupert Murdoch-controlled Star Group, is gearing up for the launch of its direct-to-home (DTH) service. The company has awarded around $3.2 million infrastructure contract to US-based Globecomm Systems Inc. for its DTH project.

Globecomm will design and build a DTH uplink facility for T-Sky, the brand under which Tata Sky will offer its services. When contacted, Tata Sky chief executive officer Vikram Kaushik declined to comment. But a source confirmed the development, saying it was around $3.2 million contract which could be scaled up.

The facility will be outfitted with multiple 9.3 meter and 4.5 meter antennas, equipment shelters, high power amplifiers and switching and related subsystems. The equipment will be monitored with Globecomm's proprietary monitor and control software.

Globecomm is a global provider of end-to-end satellite-based communications solutions. It has customers from communications service providers, commercial enterprises, Internet Service Providers, content providers and government entities. Several DTH operators including DirecTV are clients of Globecomm.

T-Sky is using the encryption systems of NDS, a company controlled by News Corp. It has booked Ku-band transponder space on Insat-4A. The satellite, which was to go up in August-September, will only launch in November. T-Sky can, thus, start its services only next year.

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