Embraer, the Brazilian aircraft manufacturer, has signed a memorandum of understanding with state-owned telco Telebras to form a satellite joint venture to help meet the government’s plans to launch two geostationary satellites by 2018.
Embraer will…
Embraer, the Brazilian aircraft manufacturer, has signed a memorandum of understanding with state-owned telco Telebras to form a satellite joint venture to help meet the government’s plans to launch two geostationary satellites by 2018.
Embraer will hold a majority 51% share in the new company with Telebras the remainder. No financial details were disclosed.
In a statement, Embraer said that the JV would ‘work with the Federal Government to meet the needs of Brazil’s plan for satellite development, including the National Broadband Program and strategic defence and governmental communications.’
The new venture is the result of a sixty day consultation period on how best to facilitate the new satellites by an executive committee comprising experts from Telebras, the Brazilian Space Agency and both the national communications and defence ministries.
Under the Ministry of Communications, Science and Technology’s domestic satellite plan, the first spacecraft would be designed to predominantly provide communications services to underserved areas, with between 15-20% of its capacity set aside for military purposes. The spacecraft is to cost approximately R$716m (US$389m) and is slated to be launched by 2014, the year Brazil host’s the Fifa World Cup.
Telebras has been tasked by the Brazilian government to coordinate the national broadband plan.
