Israeli vendor Gilat Satellite Networks has signed a strategic alliance with Russian state-owned telco Rostelecom to deploy Russia’s first nationwide KA-broadband project.
Under the agreement, Gilat will supply network equipment and KA-band end user…
Israeli vendor Gilat Satellite Networks has signed a strategic alliance with Russian state-owned telco Rostelecom to deploy Russia’s first nationwide KA-broadband project.
Under the agreement, Gilat will supply network equipment and KA-band end user terminals to RTComm, the satellite service arm of Rostelecom, for its upcoming constellation of four multi-spot beam birds, which are scheduled for 2012-2014.
In addition, the Israeli group has also secured an MoU with NIIR FSUE, the Russian government research institute, to cooperate on R&D and transfer certain technologies to enable the equipment manufacturing to take place locally in Russia.
Russia’s satellite broadband push is part of its government’s initiative to provide high-speed internet access across the whole of the Russian Federation, including rural areas.
To support this goal, Russian satellite operator RSCC plans to launch two satellites next year: Express-AM5 and Express-AM6. Both birds, which are being manufactured by ISS Reshetnev, are expected to be launched on Proton Ms around 30 March 2012. Express-AM5, with 30 C-, 40 Ku-, 12 Ka-, and 2 L-band transponders, will be placed at 140E. Express AM6, with 14 C-, 44 Ku-, 12 Ka- and 2 L-band transponders, will be launched to 53E.
The next two satellites, scheduled for 2014, will be dedicated to KA-band.
Announcing the Gilat/Rostelecom/NIIR FSUE alliance on 14 November, Naum Marder, Russia’s Deputy Minister of Telecommunications and Mass Communications, said: “Today’s announcement showcases the President and the Government’s ongoing commitment to bridging the digital divide across the Russian Federation.
“Supported by Gilat’s capabilities and track-record for success, this high priority project will ensure that high-speed broadband access is delivered to consumers and businesses across our vast nation, ensuring even the most remote locations can become active participants in the digital society.”
It is thought that the Russian government’s ability to localise the manufacturing and expertise of the KA project was key to it securing this alliance.
The country has recently been seeing increasing activity from international satellite operators Eutelsat and SES, which are keen to tap its growing demand for capacity, notably through partnerships with local companies.
Back in May, Paris-based Eutelsat built on its long-standing partnership with RSCC when it secured an MoU to collaborate on a new satellite to be launched in 2015. RSCC is also helping the French group to commercialise its KA-SAT bird in Russia, although this satellite does not cover the whole of Russia.
More recently, on 7 September, Luxembourg-based SES announced a multi-year agreement with Russian satellite operator GSS, which is substantially smaller than RSCC. This deal saw SES move its Astra-1F bird to 55E from 51E for use by GSS until it launches its own spacecraft to the orbital slot in November 2012.
