 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Alcatel Wins Pan African Telco Satellite
Paris - Jun 18, 2003 Alcatel Space has signed a US dollar 150 million contract with RascomStar-QAF, the pan-African satellite service operator, to build and deliver in orbit the first RASCOM telecommunication satellite dedicated to the African continent. Alcatel Space will supply both the in-orbit delivered satellite and its associated ground infrastructure including the mission, business, and ground control segments. Under an agreement with RASCOM, the Regional African Satellite Communication Organization, representing the interests of 44 African telecommunications operators, RascomStar-QAF has the responsibility to implement by 2006 the first African satellite telecommunication system covering the whole continent. This satellite will offer RascomStar-QAF the capability to provide fixed voice, data telecommunications and Internet access as well as broadcasting satellite services to the whole African continent, although its footprint extends beyond Africa to include part of Europe and of the Middle East. "We are very proud to implement the first RASCOM telecommunication satellite dedicated to the African continent. Before long, Africans in some 300,000 villages will be affordably connected to the rest of the world. This ambitious project is a natural part of our business since we believe that every human being should benefit from communications with others," said Pascale Sourisse, Chairman and CEO of Alcatel Space. "Our close collaboration with RASCOM and the African Telecommunications operators have enabled us to carve out a position in a new market." "RASCOM as a dynamic African organization had been set up to resolve telecommunications predicaments in Africa and though the process has been very hectic, requiring taking up a lot of challenges, we are very satisfied today with the signing and the implementation of the contract for the construction of the first RASCOM dedicated satellite for Africa with Alcatel Space", said G. D. Adadja, Director General/CEO, RASCOM. "The RASCOM Satellite system shall tremendously contribute to bridge the digital divide between rural and urban areas in Africa and between Africa and the rest of the world. It shall provide fully meshed connectivity throughout the entire continent and enable Africa to participate actively in the Global Information Society," said Adadja. Based on the flight proven Spacebus 3000B3 platform, this high performance, high capacity satellite will provide a pan-African coverage with multiple spot beams based on 12 Ku and 8 C bands transponders. The system's ground networks will include gateway Earth stations and low-cost, solar powered rural terminals. RASCOM, a pan-African intergovernmental, commercial satellite organisation, is the expression of the strong willingness of African governments and telecommunications operators to pool their efforts in view of providing the African continent with a telecommunications infrastructure based on space technology which is not only leading to a global response for all telecommunications requirements identified in Africa, but more specifically going to provide telecommunications services at very low costs, thus making universal services a reality in Africa. RASCOM has a membership of 44 African countries as of now. To achieve its mission, RASCOM has entered into a strategic partnership with RascomStar-QAF which has, under an Execution Agreement, the responsibility to implement the RASCOM telecommunications satellite system dedicated to the African continent. RascomStar-QAF is a private Company registered in Port-Louis Mauritius which through a strategic partnership with RASCOM is in charge the RASCOM dedicated Telecommunication satellite System for Africa, offering a wide range of services to the whole telecommunication community, from public to private operators to TV Broadcasting Companies and Internet Service Providers. RascomStar-QAF first Board Meeting was held in Port-Louis Mauritius on May 28 ,2003 and was hosted at Mauritius T�l�com's Tower. Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Related Links RASCOM Alcatel SpaceDaily Search SpaceDaily Subscribe To SpaceDaily Express The latest information about the Commercial Satellite Industry
Stratos Steps Closer To Xantic Acquisition
Bethesda MD (SPX) Jan 5, 2006Stratos Global recently announced it had taken a step closer toward the completion of the acquisition of Xantic, having received positive advice from the Works' Council in the Netherlands, and executed a definitive agreement to purchase Xantic from KPN and Telstra Corporation. |
|
|
| The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2006 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA PortalReports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additionalcopyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement |
