HYDERABAD: The Telangana government is planning to add more number of state owned television channels and has asked the Union Telecommunications ministry for support with the necessary technological requirements, said a senior official.The state government has asked for a transponder with the newest technology that can be sent into space via GSAT satellites to air programs on education, healthcare, employment and agriculture. R. Shailesh Reddy , chief executive office, SoFTNET, Telangana government, said, “We have asked for a transponder with the newest technology of M-tech 4 which will help us broadcast more number of channels. We are awaiting a communication from the Union ministry.”Telangana government in collaboration with the Indian Space Research Organisation ( ISRO ) operates two channels, T-SAT Vidya and T-SAT Nipuna, while two other channels are operated by the Andhra Pradesh government. They use a common transponder which was launched during the united Andhra Pradesh regime.A full transponder with M-tech 4 technology allows broadcast of 16 channels as against 4 on M-tech 2 used earlier.“While the channels were already operational as Mana TV earlier, it was rebranded today as T-SAT as part of the division of assets in the AP Reorganization Act. We have also partnered with nearly 30 knowledge partners like the T-Hub and state agricultural universities for enhancing producing for informative programs,” said Reddy.

Source: Economic Times July 26, 2017 17:03 UTC