If the country’s first-ever Bangabandhu satellite project missed its installation deadline, it will have to pay compensation as per a hefty provision.
According to Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), the regulatory body added a provision for providing a compensation for missing the deadline of the project.
Telecommunication industry insiders said the original deadline of awarding the project had expired in June this year and it will take six more months to improve its orbital position.
Bangladesh has already signed a deal with Russia-based Intersputnik for taking lease of an orbital slot worth US$28m.
On Tuesday, the cabinet committee on public purchase approved French company’s tender proposal for the implementation of Bangabandhu Satellite project involving TK2,967 crore.
Reviewing all delays, it will take at least nine months extra time. Although the government is hoping to launch the satellite by the end of 2017, it is likely to miss the set deadline due to the delay in awarding the work order.
According to purchase contract mandates of Intersputnik, the orbital slot will remain valid for 15 years with the completion of the task by the contracted time. If the government finally missed the deadline of the satellite launch, it will eventually lose the slot.
“As a priority project, the commission added a hefty provision for the manufacturer so we can install the project on time,” said Sunil Kanti Bose, out going chairman of BTRC while he was addressing a press conference at his office in the city yesterday.
There is no scope for delaying in the project installation works due to the tough provision, he added.
To kickoff of the project, the government will give the work order of the project within next 10 days, said an official of the telecom watchdog, seeking anonymity.
He further said the commission has already reshuffled a 9-member Bangabandhu Satellite Project Implementation Committee to expedite the work.
Thales Alenia Space, a France aerospace manufacturer and work order winner of Bangabandhu satellite implementation project, will have to accomplish the task within two years as per government requirement.
Earlier, a three-member evaluation committee reportedly selected the winner company after evaluating bidding documents for the Bangabandhu satellite implementation project, according to sources in Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission.
Though MDA Corporation of Canada had the lowest bid of US$222.75m, it could not win the tender because of some inconsistencies in the price quoted in its tender.
Considering all facts, the committee reportedly selected Thales Alenia Space, the second-lowest bidder worth $248m.
In June, four international companies–Great Wall Industry Corporation of China, MDA Corporation, Thales Alenia Space, and Orbital ATK from USA – participated in the tender process of the installation and post-installation support services for launching the country’s first-ever satellite.
Once the satellite is launched into orbit, it will eventually help the country save $14m annually. The government can also earn by renting the satellite.
