ISLAMABAD (APP) - Communication Satellite, PAKSAT-1R will start its commercial operations in October 2011 is expected to enhance broadcast and broadband capabilities of the country. The Satellite, successfully launched in August this year, will orbit at 23,000 miles above the surface of the earth. It is a great milestone in the field of science and technology for the people of Pakistan and a big step towards the economic prosperity of the country. The Communication Satellite will operate from orbital location of 38 degree east longitude and will offer C and KU band coverage in over 75 countries across Europe, Africa, Middle East, South and Central Asia. It will not only play important role in socio-economic development of the country but will also provide educational opportunities, better health services, stimulate private sector business and investment. Communication Satellite will provide telecom operators and government, a cost effective way to extend essential telecom services to the farthest corners of the country. Developing countries around the world face an acute shortage of medical professionals and situation is worst in rural areas of such countries which often lack communication infrastructure. Today, Communication Satellites are being employed the world over, to offer tele-medicine services in rural communities to improve access to medical care, enhance its quality, provide earlier diagnosis and treatment and improve the health care delivery. By enabling physicians to consult with their peers, have access to specialists and continue their education, tele-medicine could also increase the number of physicians located in rural areas. Giving further details, Secretary SUPARCO Arshad H Siraj said This satellite will also help to increase diversity and access to educational programmes by providing opportunities for adult community education and in-service teacher training. He said world has now entered a new era called the Information society. This era is marked by dramatic technological developments in computers, electronic media and telecommunications and growing aspects of information in all aspects of human life. Access to the information and the facilities, to produce, store and transmit information is now considered vital to development. In this race between information needs and new information capabilities, Communication Satellites give the ability to compete and maximise the use of limited resources towards an expanding population. For Pakistan, satellites are not only a communication tool, rather a unique opportunity to bring meaningful change in the lives of its citizen. Realising the importance of extending the benefits of information revolution to rural communities, governments the world over are implementing innovative universal services programmes in the areas of communication, health care, education and governance. Communication Satellites have become an integral part of all such programmes extending their reach to the remotest corners of the world and providing reliable and cost effective means of extending the benefits of information revolution to people living in these times. Replying to a question, Secretary SUPARCO said, Under the vision 2040 of Pakistans Space programme, many more satellites will be launched, which will help to improve socio-economic condition of the country. As far as launch of spaceship is concerned, he said, no such planning is in consideration, and focus is to launch more communication satellites. PAKSAT-1R has a design life of 15 years and will provide TV broadcasting, Internet and data communication services across South and Central Asia, Eastern Europe, East Africa and the Far East. The satellite will now enable the extending of communication services to all areas of Pakistan. There are more than 45 clients of PAKSAT-1R, including leading telecom companies such as Mobilink, and broadcasters. The PAKSAT-1R weighs 5,115kg and is based on the DongFangHong-4 platform with 18 Ku-band and 12 C-band transponders onboard.