Azerbaijan, Baku, Oct. 21 / Trend, H.Valiyev /
Azerbaijani Deputy Communications and Information Technologies Ministry completes operations on preparing the necessary documents to sing a contract with the launch vehicle owner to launch the first national telecommunications satellite Azerspace into orbit, the Communications and Information Technologies Minister Ali Abbasov said.
He said works on construction and launching Azerspace are underway in accordance with the set plan, and minor problems emerging in this process, can cause only a slight expansion of terms of launching the satellite into orbit. In general, according to the plan, the Azerspace satellite will be launched into orbit in 2012 and from 2013 the country will be able to render satellite services in the global space market.
Azerspace will provide digital broadcasting, Internet access, data transmission, VSAT multi-service networks, and governmental communications. The satellite will be equipped with 24 transponders C band and 12 transponders Ku band. It will be placed in orbit at 46 degrees east longitude. The satellite's term is 20 years
At present, the Ministry is working to evaluate the proposals of companies producing a carrier rocket, ILS, Arianespace, SpaceX and Ukroboronservis.
Azerbaijan's capital investment in the project is roughly 319 million manat; 127 million will be spent on operating costs. The payback period is six years, and the income will reach 176 million manat.