A satellite uplink station established by the Rajasthan Government in the shape of an integrated hub at Indira Gandhi Panchayati Raj Sansthan here has started providing telemedicine, Edusat and Gramsat services for people in remote rural areas by harnessing the potential of information technology. An official release stated here on Sunday that the satellite-based communication network had been installed in collaboration with the Central Government's Department of Space. The State Government's Science and Technology Department is functioning as its nodal agency. While the advice of specialist doctors at Sawai Man Singh Hospital here is available to the patients at district hospitals as part of telemedicine, the Edusat is being utilised for providing training to teachers under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan. The release pointed out that two-way video and audio facility through satellite interactive terminals (SITs) at Zila Parishad headquarters and one-way connectivity through receive only terminals at all the 237 panchayat samiti headquarters across the State was available under the Gramsat. Programmes on agriculture, medical and health, and science and technology Departments as well as those prepared by the Indira Gandhi Panchayati Raj Sansthan are relayed daily between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m through Gramsat. A well-equipped studio for live telecast of programmes is in the final stage of completion and is expected to start functioning by August this year after the installation of equipment. The release affirmed that the modern technological inputs provided by the satellite-based communication network had proved to be very useful for distance learning and extension activities in the State.