[Satellite TODAY 02-03-10] The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) is planning to launch a satellite in 2011 that will provide S-band satellite phone services in India, ISRO announced Feb. 2.
The organization is building the satellite’s high-beam antenna, which will be deployed on board for service to handheld devices.
    “We can connect handheld devices when it is launched in a year or so. … [The service] will be deployed in one of the communication satellites with an S-band transponder,” former ISRO Chairman Madhavan Nair said in a statement.
    India currently depends on foreign satellites for voice service.