S – BAND SCAM

PRESENTED BY:

JEEVITHA REDDY II SEMAGBS

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.

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. 

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. 

•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.

•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.

•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.

CONCLUSION: