MUMBAI: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has decided to launch two satellites by next year. GSAT-16 was scheduled to launch by mid 2015, but a new announcement from the ISRO states that it will be launched by December 2014 itself.

The 3100 kg aircraft will be lifted into space six months earlier on a European Ariane 5 launcher. The decision for advancement was taken due to the expiration of INSAT 3E that expired earlier this year and was to be replaced by GSAT-16. A tentative launch date is 6 December.

GSAT-16 will have 24 transponders in the C-band, 12 in the extended C-band and 12 in the Ku band to support public and private television and radio services, internet and telephone operations.

The government had approved Rs 865 crore to build this satellite including fee for foreign launch and insurance that constitute Rs 628 crore.

The satellite will be positioned at 55 degree east.