The Indian Space Research Organization, falling short of transponders, was planning to take transponders on rent from other countries. The ISRO department required 200 transponders and the association will acquire them on rent till the time their new satellite is developed and ready to take up the operations.

During the year 2007, ISRO had 211 transponders; their targets were to launch 500 transponders in the satellite by March 2012, but due to defect in the transponders and premature terminations of transponders, the target became unable to be achieved.

Presently, ISRO had 175 transponders in a mix of C, Extended—C, Ku and S bands and has taken on lease 86 and half foreign transponders but faced a huge order book position. As per ISRO Chairman, K. Radhakrishnan in a press conference, the department had many orbital slots empty, and they were looking for foreign satellite and transponders that were capable to fit in their orbital slots for a short period of time, there maximum limit of transponders was 320 at present.

The idea to acquire foreign transponder capacity also stems from the fact that India wants to keep some transponder capacity at a standby. “Suppose something happens to the satellites or transponders, user should not get affected," said Mr. Radhakrishnan.