EDUSAT, launched by Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle
(GSLV-F01) in September 2004, is India's first thematic satellite dedicated
exclusively for educational services. The satellite is specially configured to
relay through audio-visual medium, employing multi-media multi-centric system,
to create interactive classrooms. EDUSAT has multiple regional beams covering
different parts of India - five Ku-band transponders with spot beams covering
northern, north-eastern, eastern, southern and western regions of the country,
a Ku-band transponder with its footprint covering the Indian mainland region
and six C-band transponders with their footprints covering the entire country.
EDUSAT is being implemented in three phases, pilot, semi-operational and
operational phases. While pilot phase has continued, semi-operational and
operational phase have been put into implementation during the year.
EDUSAT is already providing a wide range of educational delivery
modes like one-way TV broadcast, interactive TV, video conferencing, computer
conferencing, web-based instructions, etc.
Sixty four networks have been setup so far, out of which 10
networks use national Ku-band beam and 36 networks are operational on regional
Ku-band and Extended-C band national beams. There are more than 3386
interactive classrooms and 31313 receive only classrooms totaling close to
34699 classrooms. Networks have already been setup in 24 states covering almost
entire country including all islands (Andman & Nicobar, Lakshdweep),
North-Eastern states and Jammu & Kashmir. Implementation in remaining states is
under progress.
Special Networks
One of the innovative networks on EDUSAT is the network for
"Blind schools". Blind People's Association, Ahmedabad is a leading
organisation promoting education, training, employment and rehabilitation for
blind persons. Considering the specific needs of the blind people, an
altogether different kind of broadcast network configuration delivering live
audio and data which is read by blind person through its printed impression
(Braille) was set up.
Another special network in Ext C-band connecting 50 engineering
institutes across the country has been established to impart teaching by
distinguished professors/faculty from top 21 universities in USA who would
visit India to conduct eight-week courses in various subjects in engineering.
This network is now shared by IIT-Bombay network with additional 30 end users.
Apart from this, network for IIM, Bangalore connecting with its
other centre in Chennai; an extended C-band network connecting all the five
centers of National Council of Science Museums for promoting scientific
temperament among students and general public; network for Mahabharatha
Sansthan for online transmission of digitised manuscripts from remote areas
through mobile terminal to centralised center for archival so as to preserve
them; two networks in Kerala for imparting education and awareness to parents
and teachers of mentally challenged children schools; network in Tamilnadu and
Pondicherry connecting centers of Aravind Virtual Academy for providing
eye-care; etc. are a few special networks, which have been set up/under
implementation under EDUSAT Utilisation Programme.
Educational TV Services
INSAT is being used to provide Educational TV (ETV) service for
primary school children in Tamil, Marathi, Oriya, Telugu and Hindi. A general
enrichment programme on higher education (college sector) is telecast on the
national network. These programmes, provided by the University Grants
Commission (UGC), are a part of its countrywide classroom programme. The Indira
Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) broadcasts half an hour curriculum
based lectures daily via the national network for the students.
Training and Developmental Communications Channel (TDCC)
A total of 8 Ext. C-band channels - 6 on INSAT-3B and 2 on
Edusat - are being used for Training, Development and Communication Channel
(TDCC), a service that has been operational since 1995. It provides 1-way video
& 2-way audio system of interactive education. The teaching-end includes a
studio and an uplink facility for transmitting live or pre-recorded lectures.
The participants at the classrooms located nationwide receive lectures through
simple dish antennas (DRS) and have facility to interact with lecturers using
telephone lines.
Several state governments and universities are using the TDCC
system extensively for Distance Education, Rural Development, Women & Child
Development, Panchayati Raj, Health, Agriculture, Forestry, etc. The
teaching-ends are now available at Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Karnataka
and Goa. The DRS network consists of more than 5000 classrooms spread over the
country.
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