Communications operators invited to shift from foreign satellites to KazSat-2

Kazakhstan’s communications operators are asked to shift from foreign communications satellites to the national KazSat-2 satellite, Newskaz.ru reports. “KazSat-2 was designed and built out of the state budget. However, part of Kazakhstan’s communications operators keep on working with foreign satellites. Thus, the money goes overseas”, Newskaz.ru quoted Viktor Lefter, Head of the National Center for Space-assisted Communications, as saying. According to him, the situation doesn’t guarantee “information safety and security of Kazakhstan (…) and the money [for satellite use] goes to finance foreign science and technology”. “We are asking Kazakhstan’s communications operators to consider shifting to the national KazSat-2 satellite”, Mr. Lefter said. KazSat-2 was placed in full operation November 26, KazKosmos National Space Agency reported. November 25 the National Space Agency obtained the full title to the satellite from Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center. Late August the satellite launched July 16, 2011 reached its orbital position. KazSat 2 is a Kazakh communication satellite designed by Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center. It features 12 Ku-band transponders for fixed communications and 4 Ku-band transponders for TV-transmissions and is intended for telecast, fixed satellite communication and data transmission for Kazakhstan and Central Asia. The unit weighs 1,330 kg, its service life is 12 years. According to Meirbek Moldabekov, Vice Chairman of KazKosmos, KazSat-2 cost $115 million and it will be recouped in 4 years’ time, if it is exploited at 80% of the capacities. It was to supplement the KazSat 1 satellite, but it has replaced Kazsat 1 due to the complete loss of the first satellite. Launch of Kazsat-2 and construction of a new backup ground-based spacecraft control complex will enable Kazakhstan to save $30 million annually, KazKosmos Kazakhstan Space Agency Head Talgat Mussabayev told a briefing in Akkol September 14. “Today Kazakhstan’s mobile carriers pay about $30 million a year to foreign satellite operators. With KazSat-2 in place all the money will be retained in Kazakhstan”, he said at that time.