Azerbaijan, Baku, Nov. 4 / Trend H.Valiyev /
The Azerbaijani Communications and IT Ministry and the Arianespace international company will sign a contract on the launch of the Azerspace national telecommunications satellite into orbit, the ministry said today. Arianespace is engaged in producing, exploitation and marketing the Ariane 5 rocket carrier.
Azerspace will be Azerbaijan's first satellite of this kind, and will launch in late 2012.
To date, the ministry has signed a contract with the Orbital Sciences Corporation to produce the satellite. The ministry has also signed a long-term contract on leasing an orbital position for Azerspace with the Malaysian MEASAT satellite operator.
Azerspace is designed to provide digital broadcasting, Internet access, data transmission, VSAT multi-service networks, and governmental communications.
Azerspace will be equipped with 24 transponders C band and 12 transponders Ku band. The satellite will be placed in orbit at 46 degrees east longitude. The satellite's term is 20 years. Its service area will cover Europe, Central Asia and Africa.
The implementation of the project will allow new space systems technologies to be introduced in the telecommunications and communications sectors, including the Internet access.
At present, Azerbaijan annually spends millions of dollars to rent foreign satellite transponders for communications and broadcasting. Launching a national satellite will cut costs. The payback period is about five-seven years.
Azerbaijan's capital investment in the project is approximately 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.
The income from the satellite will reach roughly 495 million manat. Incomes will amount to 176 million manat.
The received revenue will be spent on the country's technological development.
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