Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, April 23 / Trend H. Hasanov /
Turkmen Communication Minister Bayramgeldi Ovezov has visited Switzerland and Monaco to discuss the creation of Turkmenistan's satellite communication system, the official Turkmen source said today.
The Turkmen Communication Ministry has a monopoly to render telecommunication services.
Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov stressed that it is necessary to more widely use the advanced technologies and equipment to further improve the mobile communication system and more effective use of Internet resources.
Turkmenistan began constructing its first national satellite to launch it into space in August 2014 with the help of the French Thales Alenia Space in December 2011.
This corresponds to the terms of the contract signed between the Turkmen Communication Ministry and the French Thales Alenia Space.
Thales will also assist in around the clock satellite governance for 15 years and train qualified specialists.
Thales Alenia Space is one of the world leaders in space industry, part of the so-called European "Space Alliance". Having a network of large companies in France, Italy, Belgium and Spain, the company specializes in manufacturing satellites for various purposes, and
equipment for them, having proved itself as a leader in the field of space communications, the earth remote sensing, navigation.
This is the first satellite to be launched by Turkmenistan in the region. It will make a significant breakthrough in the field of telecommunications, communications and other applications such as Internet, mobile communications.
The National Space Agency, established under the Turkmen President, will carry out the functions to control over the Earth's orbit, to establish satellite communications, to conduct research to study outer space.
According to some estimates, Turkmenistan's astro-climate conditions are among the best ones in the world to conduct astronomical observations. In particular, the transparency of the atmosphere, favorable wind conditions, the illumination allow to observe space objects more than two hours.
There is the observatory on the mountain Dushak in Turkmenistan having a meter telescope and other equipment that needs the proper modernization.
An artificial satellite can be used to resolve the tasks of the national economy of the country. It will be possible to monitor the agricultural areas, to conduct research for the needs of oil and gas industry, to carry out environmental monitoring from space.