Bolivia is the latest country to turn to China to construct its first communications satellite. As with similar agreements with Venezuela and Nigeria, China will provide Bolivia with the financing necessary to fund the project, which is expected to cost…
Bolivia is the latest country to turn to China to construct its first communications satellite. As with similar agreements with Venezuela and Nigeria, China will provide Bolivia with the financing necessary to fund the project, which is expected to cost around US$300m.
The two countries have signed a memorandum of understanding that has also been approved by representatives of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). A delegation from Bolivia, potential including president Evo Morales, will now visit China in March to finalise the agreement and design of the satellite. Prior to this, Chinese engineers will visit the Bolivian capital La Paz for preliminary discussions on the satellite’s configuration, launch and orbital position.
The spacecraft is to be named Tupac Katari after the Bolivian indigenous leader who fought against Spanish colonial rule. As with Venesat-1 and NigComSat-1, China Great Wall Industry Corporation will construct the satellite, although it is unclear whether they will use the same DFH-4 satellite bus that suffered in-orbit failures on both Sinosat 2 and Nigcomsat-1.
