Cyprus-based space asset manager Kypros Satellites (Kyprosat) is partnering with British manufacturer Surrey Satellite Technology to offer a turnkey geostationary telecoms system delivered in-orbit for around US$120m.
Kyprosat has rights to 20 orbital…
Cyprus-based space asset manager Kypros Satellites (Kyprosat) is partnering with British manufacturer Surrey Satellite Technology to offer a turnkey geostationary telecoms system delivered in-orbit for around US$120m.
Kyprosat has rights to 20 orbital slots across the world and believes that, by collaborating with the Airbus-owned space hardware maker, it can pave the way for new players in the market by reducing complexity and costs.
The venture will be based on SSTL’s small GMP-T geostationary satellite platform, which is capable of delivering up to 5.5kW in power, up to 8GHz of Ka-band or 1GHz or Ku-band, and can be stacked in pairs for cheaper launches.
SSTL’s director of telecoms and navigation, John Paffett, said: “SSTL’s small Geo platform is perfectly placed to address the Kyprosat needs and to offer smaller domestic telecoms operators in emerging markets an affordable entry opportunity to an indigenous capability.
“At the same time it offers established global commercial satellite operators opportunities for cost-effective and rapid upgrade or replacement of capability.”
Kyprosat’s CEO Angelos Pieri founded his company in 2006, and two years later received a license from the government of the Republic of Cyprus to use orbital slots registered through the Cyprus administration.
It has been seeking to monetise these spectrum resources and has already sold eight of the slots to NewSat, the Australian satellite operator that is set to launch its first payload Jabiru-2 imminently.
Kyprosat CTO Christopher Topping declined to disclose which positions have been taken by NewSat, but said its arrangement with the Australian firm enables them to potentially work together on orbital slots it has yet to find a use for.
“This significant portfolio of orbit and spectrum resources will be fully available to Kypros Satellites’ collaboration agreement with SSTL, always fully taking into account and protecting NewSat’s assigned orbit/spectrum rights,” said Topping.
“Moreover, NewSat has been, and continues to be, strongly supportive of our collaboration with SSTL, and I hope that very soon we will be in a position to make a further announcement regarding a significant contribution to the project by NewSat.”
As well as SSTL, he said the venture is close to securing other partners to handle the legal, insurance, launch, and financial aspects of its turnkey solution, although he declined to disclose details until all the agreements are in place.
However, partners listed on Kyprosat’s website include insurance broker Willis, law firm Milbank, UK-based consultancy firm RPC Telecom and German advisory group Joerg Kreisel International Consultant (JKIC).
Kyprosat has 26 satellite network filings covering multiple spectrum bands in the following 20 orbital positions: 174.5W, 172.5W, 161W, 56W, 52.5W, 50.5W, 2W, 16.5E, 22.5E, 47E, 54E, 54.5E, 57E, 61E, 89.5E, 90E, 107.5E, 123E, 134E and 174E.
Topping said it also has access to a further 42 ‘Advance Publication’ filings, which it aims to develop into full filings with the ITU regulator to meet future demand.
