Myanmar’s three-stage implementing to launch own Satellite

Vice President U MyintSwe, Chairman of Myanmar-owned Satellite System Establishment Work Committee, attended the Fifth Collaboration Conference at the Ministry of Transport and Communication’s Meeting Hall on 12 April at 2 p.m.

He opened the meeting by announcing that the group of 13 members who had been chosen by the Government should give advice and be responsible for implementing the seven steps to launch a successful satellite which was formed on the Letter Number 17/2017 on 25 January 2017.

The Vice President stated that the Committee had made 19 decisions in the fourth meeting of which 12 were implemented and 7 under implementation. He suggested that outline of the necessary steps to be done on time. In order to be successful the government expects to have both space agency and space law soon. Among them, the EOS (Earth Observation Micro-Satellite) is to be the highest priority.

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The Myanmar-owned Satellite System Establishment Work Committee and its four sub-committees are designed to influence and determine the satellite set up project. The chairman also characterized the four sub-committees which are the Myanmar-owned Satellite System Technical Sub-Committee, Myanmar-Owned Satellite System Legal Affairsand Rules Sub-Committee, Myanmar-Owned Satellite Transponder Leasing Sub-Committee and Myanmar-Owned Low-Flying Satellite Releasing Sub-Committee.

The Myanmar-Owned Satellite Establishment Work Committee attempts to develop the project in three steps. The first step is to lease transponder from foreign satellite. At the moment, MyanmarSat-1 is hired from another country.

The second step is to adopt joint ownership of MyanmarSat-2. On 1 June 2018, the cost to be paid was USD 155.7 Million for agreement between Ministry of Transportation and Communication, Department of Information Technology and Cyber Security and Intelsat Global Sales and Marketing Limited. The first installment of 30% was paid twice within 2018 on a 6-month budget period. The second installment of 50% was paid 4 times in the fiscal year 2018-2019. The remaining 20% will be paid in two installments in the fiscal year of 2019-2020. The MyanmarSat-2 will be released to the orbit on June 2019.Mostly new technology will be used in mid- September 2019 and once the energy used on MyanmarSat-1 is relocated into MyanmarSat-2, it will no longer be needed to spend for hiring MyanmarSat-1. The new MyanmarSat-2 will provide 432 MHz C-Brand and 432 MHz Ku-Band and the frequency bands are to be allocated to several services such as Education, Health and other different aspects.

The third mission is that Myanmar also plans to launch its first fully owned satellite. However, the cost of getting a Government-owned satellite into orbit is expensive so priority should be given to launching a less expensive EOS (Earth Observation Micro-Satellite). For this issue, Hokkaido University has already agreed to design the EOS and to provide support in technology and equipment. The Vice President argued for calculating the estimated cost and putting the effort in setting up the Satellite as soon as possible.

Vice President also argued to set Space Laws for Space Agency, set future plans, prepare for unknown cases, cooperative sectors, current affairs and suggest positive opinions  and to examine all of those issues such as were thoroughly and openly discussed.

Moreover Committee Chairman Union Minster for Transport and Communications U Thant ZinMaung explained the current condition of setting up satellite and low-flying satellite systems.

The incumbent Minister of the President’s Office U SoeThein reported the job done over past decisions.

The leader of committee members  Lt. General U KyawSwe (the incumbent Minister of Home Affairs Of Myanmar), U Kyaw Tint Swe, U Ohn Win, Dr. MyoTheinGyi, U Kyaw Tin and Myanmar-owned Satellite System Establishment Work Committee members and Deputy Ministers U TharOo, U Win Maw Htun,  Myanmar-owned Satellite System Technical  Sub-Committee and Prof. U Kyi Lwin (Myanmar Aerospace Engineering Faculty), Chairman of Myanmar-Owned Satellite System Legal Affairs and Rules Sub-Committee and Union Attorney Director- General Dr. DawThidaOo, other sub-committees and sub-committee members and meeting attendees explained and discussed about the satellite releasing plans, budget plans, human resources development plans, main subjects and capabilities , laws and authorities and long-term projects.

Finally, Vice President U MyintSwe summarized matters discussed at the meeting and move discussion towards a conclusion.

Ref: Ministry of Transport and Communications