<P> In June 2014, ISRO launched French Earth Observation Satellite SPOT - 7 (mass 714 kg) along with Singapore's first nano satellite VELOX - I, Canada's satellite CAN - X5, Germany's satellite AISAT, via the PSLV - C23 launch vehicle . It was ISRO's 4th commercial launch . </P> <P> The South Asia Satellite (GSAT - 9) is a geosynchronous communications and meteorology satellite by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) region. (1) The satellite was launched on the 5th May, 2017 . During the 18th SAARC summit held in Nepal in 2014, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi mooted the idea of a satellite serving the needs of SAARC member nations, part of his Neighbourhood first policy . </P> <P> One month after sworn in as Prime Minister of India, in June 2014 Modi asked ISRO to develop a SAARC satellite, which can be dedicated as a' gift' to the neighbors . </P> <P> It is a satellite for the SAARC region with 12 Ku - band transponders (36 MHz each) and launch using the Indian Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle GSLV Mk - II . The total cost of launching the satellite is estimated to be about ₹ 2,350,000,000 (₹ 235 crore). The cost associated with the launch was met by the Government of India . The satellite enables full range of applications and services in the areas of telecommunication and broadcasting applications viz television (TV), direct - to - home (DTH), very small aperture terminals (VSATs), tele - education, telemedicine and disaster management support . </P>

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