Azerbaijan, Baku, April 10 / Trend H. Valiyev /
The first contract on the launch of the national telecommunications satellite Azerspace is expected to be signed April 15, Minister of Communications and IT Ali Abbasov said at a meeting with members of the Caspian-European Integration Business Club (CEIBC).
Minister said that the contract will be signed with the manufacturer of the satellite - the U.S. company Orbital Sciences Corporation.
Launch of first satellite is scheduled for June 2012.
One of the priority issues facing the ministry is the realization of satellite resources. The Ministry intends to withdraw 80 percent of Azerspace resources to the international market, and the remaining 20 percent use on intrarepublican level. Malaysia expressed willingness to acquire 40 percent of satellite resources.
Cost of the satellite will hit 160 million manat, the ministry said.
Construction of the satellite will cost 87 million manat, 40 million manat will be spent to orbit the satellite. The satellite control center will cost 16 million manat but the rest 18 million manat will be spent on full insurance of new satellite.
The project will be cost-effective achievement of Azerbaijan, and the investments will be paid off within five to seven years. Afterwards, the satellite will be fully profitable. According to international practice, hire of 6-8 transponders cost about $9-10 million a year.
Existence of a national satellite will enable Azerbaijan to establish high-quality and reliable communications, television, as well as increase the number of channels.
The ITU placed the Azerspace national satellite on 43.2, 58.5 and 96 degrees east. The satellite will be equipped with three beams directed at Europe, Asia and Africa, which will allow the country to act as a transit country in broadcast channels.
Azerbaijan is willing to hold talks on coordination of frequency assignments of satellite systems of several countries. We consider the negotiations to determine acceptable levels of interference by satellite networks and achieve coordination of satellite networks in Azerbaijan with Russia, Turkey, Monaco and Italy. The most priority is to coordinate issues on the positions of 43.2 and 58.5 degrees east longitude. At present, the coordination of frequency assignments for satellite systems agreed with Kazakhstan and Ukraine.