Azernews.Az

By Nigar Orujova

The constructor of Azerbaijan's second telecommunication satellite will be announced soon, Azercosmos, the largest satellite operator in the Caucasus, said.

The results of the tender, which sees only American companies bidding, will be made public by the end of February, Azercosmos said.

Azercosmos received more than $1.5 million from the US Trade and Development Agency in order to launch its second satellite in 2017.

The satellite will provide greater stability of telecommunication services. It will also expand the coverage area.

The country's first national satellite, Azerspace-1, was launched in February 2013. It covers Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia and North Africa. Several orbital positions are discussed for the second satellite, which will also have a commercial character.

Like Azerspace-1, the second telecommunications satellite will be designed to provide digital broadcasting, Internet access, data transmission, and to create multiservice VSAT networks.

Azercosmos said involvement of the consulting companies in development of a feasibility study for the second telecommunications satellite is expected within a month. The feasibility study development worth over $500,000 will be financed by USTDA.

The study, which is expected to be finished by July 2014, will study economic, technical and financial issues related to the construction of the satellite, its launch and on-orbit operation, as well as financing of the project.