Summary of Antrix- devas scam

Excerpts from ET article

Antrix Corporation was set up as the marketing arm of Isro in 1992
company hoped to promote commercial exploitation of space products,technical consultancy services and transfer of technologies developed by Isro
A major objective is to facilitate development of space-related industrial capabilities in India
Forge Advisors,a US-based strategic consultancy, established an Indian company called Devas Multimedia,with some former Isro scientists on board.
Antrix inked a memorandum of understanding with Forge for exploring opportunities in digital multimedia services
agreement provided leasing of 90% of the space segment capacity on two satellites for 12 years to Devas
Antrixs board approved the draft agreement between the two sides,and the agreement was signed

Two Satellites

Antrix committed to build and launch two satellites
These two would have helped Devas deliver a range of services such as broadband to remote areas

here's how a scam was discovered

there was no tendering for awarding the contract to Devas
the Cabinet was not informed that the two satellites were being built by Isro for Devas
satellites were leased to Devas at throwaway prices

Counter arguments

Antrix-Isro,regularly leases satellite capacity to private firms in the direct-to-home business without tendering
Devas was bringing in new technology that had a high risk of failure
estimated loss of 2 lakh crore was based on comparing what Devas paid to 3G auction prices

it was a nonsensical comparison because the 3G spectrum and its uses and market are completely different from those of the S-band spectrum and the related technology that Devas would have used

OUTCOME

Image of Antrix,which was supposed to be the government space technology arm that would bring in private investment and cutting-edge technology and market Indian space capabilities abroad,remains very badly damaged.

Article copied from : http://iasblogz.blogspot.in/2012/02/summary-of-antrix-devas-scam.html

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