Russian company offers investment

KARACHI: A Russian satellite company has expressed interest in investing and modernising home TV technology in Pakistan and is looking to enter into joint ventures with Pakistani channels.

During his current visit, Sergey L Dolgopolsky, representative of General Satellite Corporation, Russia met with representatives of different TV channels for introducing Direct-To-Home (DTH) satellite technology in Pakistan. “We are ready to invest 50 per cent of the total cost,” he said.

Consul General of Russia in Pakistan Andrey Demidov along with Dolgopolsky announced this during a visit to the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) on Monday.

Dolgopolsky said DTH channel will be a real information portal, provide information related to e-commerce, e-education and tele-medicines and will be easily accessible for everybody.

He said average cost of these types of projects in Russia is around $20 million and in Pakistan the cost may vary according to the model and services launched.

“Pakistan is the most appropriate country, because there is no DTH satellite channel here compared to the neighboring country of India, which has seven such channels,” he said.

Acting President FPCCI Mansha Churra assured the delegates that the Federation will help them in disseminating their portfolio among FPCCI members, who would be interested in investing in the DTH satellite sector.

“The FPCCI will help and coordinate with relevant stakeholders for introducing General Satellite Corporation’s system,” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 19^th, 2010.