New Delhi, May 21 (IANS) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Monday congratulated the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the space department on the successful launch of GSAT-8 satellite,  which will augument communication networks and give a boost to direct-to-home services in the country.

 
 The prime minister rang up Space and ISRO Secretary K. Radhakrishnan at the launch site to convey his greetings.
 
 "The successful launch has once again demonstrated the versatility and reliability of Indian space programme. This launch will augument communication networks in the country and help us meet the challenge of providing affordable radio and television connectivity and world class GPS services to millions of our countrymen," he said in his message.
 
 The mega geostationary satellite was successfully lifted off by European Space Agency's Ariane-V rocket from Kourou spaceport in French Guiana in the early hours Saturday.
 
 Weighing 1,426 kg (dry mass) in space, the cuboid shaped spacecraft has 24 high-power Ku-band transponders as its payload for direct-to-home (DTH) services from July 1 by state-run and private broadcasters after its induction into the Indian satellite (INSAT) system.