100 Gbps Internet On The Way: India’s Heaviest, ISRO’s 5.8 Tonne GSAT-11 Satellite Successfully Placed Into Orbit

Codenamed “Big Bird”, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)‘s GSAT-11 satellite which will provide satellite-beamed internet to remote parts of India along with internet connectivity in flights, was launched successfully today (5 December) at 2.07 am IST from the Kourou French spaceport in South America, as reported by NDTV.

The Big Bird weighs 5,854 kg, which is the heaviest Indian made satellite yet. It was accompanied by the Korea Aerospace Research Institute’s (KARI) GEO-KOMPSAT-2A satellite which weighs 3,507.2 kg.

India’s GSLV MK III can carry payload upto 4 tons, so the Big Bird was launched in Ariane 5 rocket which has a payload capacity of 10 tons for geosynchronous orbits.

The satellite was originally set to be launched in May this year but had to be taken back to Bengaluru for additional testing.

"GSAT-11 is the next generation high throughput communication satellite that will play a vital role in providing broadband services across the country. It will also provide a platform to demonstrate new generation applications," said the ISRO chief Dr K Sivan.

Costing Rs 600 crore, the ‘Big bird’ is expected to provide its services for 15 years. The satellite has power equivalent to the combined power of all Indian communication satellites currently.

“Along with its three siblings, GSAT-19, GSAT-29 and GSAT-20, the satellite will be a game changer for providing internet access and data communications for India and will aid the Digital India program,” added Dr Sivan.