Thales

Thales Alenia Space has been selected to build a payload for Argentina’s third geostationary telecom satellite ARSAT-3.

Thales Alenia signed a contract with ARSAT Empresa Argentina de Soluciones Satelitales to supply the payloads, which will be equipped with 12 Ku-band and 8 Ka-band transponders.

The supply also includes the option for two more payloads.

Argentine state-owned company Invap is involved in building the ARSAT series of telecommunication satellites. In 2014, its first satellite ARSAT-1 was launched.

"Thales Alenia signed a contract with ARSAT Empresa Argentina de Soluciones Satelitales to supply the payloads."

The second generation of ARSAT series, known as ARSAT-2 was launched in September. The entire ARSAT programme comprises three satellites, which is a part of Argentine Geostationary Telecommunications Satellite System (SSGAT).

ARSAT-3 is scheduled to launch in 2019, which will provide high speed data, internet and television transmission services to the South American region.

Thales Alenia Space president Jean Loïc Galle said: "We are delighted with this great opportunity to deepen the strategic relation with both Argentina’s satellite manufacturer ARSAT, and INVAP to continue the close industrial co-operation initiated on ARSAT-1.and successfully confirmed on ARSAT-2."

Thales Alenia Space recently secured another contract from Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission to build a telecommunications satellite. Under the deal, Thales Alenia Space will be responsible for designing, producing, testing and launching the satellite into orbit.

The proposed satellite, Bangabandhu is expected to deliver broadcasting and telecommunication services to rural areas of Bangladesh. It is scheduled to be launched by 2017.


Image: The ARSAT series of satellites under development by Invap. Photo: courtesy of INVAP.