Azersky to bring over $200 million in revenue
By Nazrin Gadimova
Azerbaijan’s low-orbit satellite Azersky will bring more than $200 million in revenue within the next 12 years.
The Cabinet of Ministers noted this in a report to be discussed by the Azerbaijani Parliament on March 15.
Azersky was transferred to Azerbaijan based on an agreement signed between Azerbaijan's satellite operator Azercosmos and the French Airbus Defence and Space.
The satellite allows to survey the 6-million square kilometers of Earth's surface daily. In fact, it means that Azerbaijan’s territory is being monitored every day.
The report also noted that Azercosmos signed a loan agreement worth 132 million euros with the Japanese Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation and Mizuho Bank in 2015 get funds for the purchase of a terrestrial station to control AzerSky.
Meanwhile, the launch of Azerspace-2, the country’s second telecommunication satellite will cost $63 million, which is cheaper by $30 million, the report reads.
Designed to provide digital broadcasting, Internet access, data transmission and creation of VSAT multi-service networks, Azerspace-2 is scheduled to be launched in 2017.
In 2015, Azercosmos and the French Arianespace company signed a contract worth $63 million on launching of the satellite, while launching of Azerspace-1 amounted to $93 million.
The second satellite program will be financed by the Export Development Canada export credit agency, the Cabinet of Ministers reported.
Azercosmos is the first satellite operator in the Caucasus. The company's strategic development plans include the launch of a second telecommunications satellite Earth observation services in the coming years.
Today, Azercosmos provides telecommunication services through the Azerspace-1.
Service area of this satellite includes Europe, Africa, Central Asia and the Middle East. Such countries as Malaysia, Russia, Germany, Ukraine, Egypt, Georgia, UAE, Lebanon, Cameroon, the United Kingdom, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Estonia and Belarus use Azerspace-1’s services.
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Nazrin Gadimova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @NazrinGadimova
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