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Turkey to launch new satellites

05 April 2010 15:03 (UTC +04:00)

Baku â€“ APA-Economics. Turkey’s satellite communications company, TURKSAT, is getting ready to sign two contracts with foreign producers for two new satellites, World Bulletin reported.

TURKSAT told AA on Monday that it invited international bidders for the production of the TURKSAT 4A and 4B satellites and three companies from Asia, America and Europe submitted bids.

TURKSAT General Director Ozkan Dalbay said they aimed at signing a contract with the winning bidder in June.

He said the new satellites were estimated to be completed in 26 months and launched to space in the last quarter of 2012. He said the new satellites would have a life span of 20 years with 4A covering Africa and 4B covering Asia.

Dalbay said 4A would be used for satellite TV broadcasts while 4B would be used for internet services, data transfer, and live broadcasts.

He said they would invite bidders for the launching of the new satellites in June.

Dalbay said 4A and 4B would be the Turkey’s last foreign made satellites, noting that the construction of Turkey’s "National Satellite Production Center" would begin in June.

He said the facility which would be designed to produce satellites up to 5 tons of weight would initially do 30% of the production, gradually rising this ratio.