Announcing this at the inauguration of the new premises of the Department of Science on Technology on Wednesday, Space Commission chairman K Kasturirangan noted that Indian satellites had now become part of the global system disseminating data around the world.

For instance, he said, Oceansat-I would study the movements of shoals of fish in the ocean and this when combined with temperature reading, would provide accurate clues about fish catch prospects.

India's remote sensing data is also used by the United States, Germany, Japan, the United Arab Emirates and the Far East Nations, Kasturiranganadded.

INSAT 2-E will be used for television broadcasting in India, Australia and Europe, Kasturirangan said. The satellite costing Rs 140 crores will carry 11 transponders which have been leased to INTELSAT, he added.

The INSAT 3-B satellites to be launched in 1999 will have 12 extended C Band transponders and three KU Band transponders. While the C Band transponders will help develop communications, the KU Band would be used for inter-city communication. This satellite will be the first of the third generation satellites to be develop in the country, Kasturirangan said.