MUMBAI: The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro)-built INSAT-4B, which is mainly meant for direct-to-home (dth) television services, is slated for launch from the European spaceport of Kourou in French Guiana on 10 March.

The Rs 3 billion telecom satellite, which is identical to INSAT-4A, carries 12 Ku-band and 12 C-band transponders. European space consortium Arianespace will carry out the launch. It will cost around $ 50 million, according to a press release.

As had been reported last month by Indiantelevision.com one likely customer for the KU band transponders is Kalanithi Maran's Sun Group, which had booked space last year on the failed Insat-4C for its DTH venture Sun Direct.

Sun TV had booked six transponders for DTH and one for DSNG (digital satellite news gathering) on Insat-4C.