Azernews.Az

BAKU – Azerbaijan has signed a deal with European aerospace giant Arianespace to launch the ex-Soviet republic's first satellite into space, the communications ministry said on Friday.

The 93-million-dollar (66-million-euro) deal will see France-based Arianespace launch an Azerbaijani satellite from the European Space Agency's site in Kourou, French Guiana, in 2012, ministry spokesman Mushvig Amirov told AFP.

He said Azerbaijan, an energy-rich mainly Muslim republic on the Caspian Sea, is spending 213 million dollars (151 million euros) in total on the satellite, which will be used for 20 years to provide telecommunications services.

The satellite will be built by Orbital Sciences Corporation of the United States, using a STAR-2 platform. It will deliver a wide range of communications services for all of Azerbaijan, as well as Central Asia, Europe, Middle East and Africa.

"We are very pleased to have chosen Arianespace, which is the leading company in space transportation," said Ali Abbasov, the Azerbaijan Minister of Communications and Information Technologies. "We are sure that Arianespace’s experience and expertise will guarantee a successful launch for our country’s first satellite."

Jean-Yves Le Gall, Chairman and CEO of Arianespace, added, "The implementation of its national satellite program and its entering into the satellite market, demonstrate the rapid, successful and sustainable development of Azerbaijan, and shall contribute to the development of the region. This is the 10th contract we have signed so far this year, confirming the quality and competitiveness of our launch Service & Solutions."

Arianespace is the world’s leading launch Service & Solutions company, providing innovation to its customers since 1980. Backed by 24 shareholders and the European Space Agency, Arianespace offers an unrivalled family of launchers, comprising Ariane 5, Soyuz and Vega.