ISLAMABAD: Pakis­tan launched a multi-mission communication satellite — PakSat-MM1 — to improve internet connectivity, from XiChang Sate­llite Launch Centre in China, the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Resea­rch Commission (Suparco) announced on Thursday.

The achievement, coming on the heels of the cou­ntry’s maiden iCube Qamar lunar mission launched earlier this month, drew congratulatory messages from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other officials for the nation.

Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Mini­ster Ahsan Iqbal witnessed the launch and could be seen capturing the liftoff with his mobile phone.

PakSat-MM1 has been jointly designed and developed by Suparco and the China Great Wall Industry Corporation.

This is a geostationary satellite based on advanced communication technologies that will enhance the satellite-based communication services of Pakistan and fulfil the needs of commercial as well as government users.

“High Throughput System (HTS) technology onboard PakSat-MM1 will substantially boost connectivity to the last mile and will reshape the future of satellite communication in Pakistan. This will be the key to connect the unconnected with the rest of the country,” Suparco said.

“PakSat-MM1 will ensure affordable bandwidth with higher reach within the country. Sectors such as e-commerce, telemedicine, e-governance, Pak SBAS svc and many others will be able to grow,” Suparco said in its statement.

It said PakSat-MM1 would also have Pakistan Space Based Augmentation System (Pak-SBAS) payload which would provide the integrity-based positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) services making Pakistan the 11th country in the world that would launch its own SBAS besides the USA, Russia, China, Japan, Europe, India, South Korea, Aus­tralia, Nigeria and Algeria.

“It is also a testament to the longstanding friendship between Pakistan and the Peoples Republic of China,” it said.

Suparco Chairman Mohammad Yousaf Khan appreciated the efforts of engineers from both countries for the successful completion of the project.

With control stations at Lahore and Karachi, the 5-tonne satellite has a design life of 15 years with a coverage area stretching from Pakistan to the Indian Ocean, the Middle East and parts of Africa and Europe.

In Reels posted on social media, Mr Iqbal while congratulating both Pakistani and Chinese engineers said, “The satellite will provide Pakistan with much needed enhanced connectivity — another important milestone in Pakistan’s space programme.”

Soon Pakistan will launch satellites on made-in-Pakistan rockets.”

Published in Dawn, May 31st, 2024