SES has signed a comprehensive collaboration agreement with SSI-Monaco (Space Systems International Monaco).
SSI-Monaco, founded in 2004, signed a licence agreement with the Monaco Government in 2009 for the development and use of the 52 degrees East Monaco orbital position and is notably responsible for the realisation of the MonacoSat satellite project.
In November 2011, SSI signed a set of agreements with the Turkmenistan Ministry of Communications in relation to the use of the 52 degrees East SSI-Monaco orbital position. This set of agreements included the right for SSI to use 12 Ku-band transponders on the TurkmenSpace satellite of the Turkmenistan NSSC (National System of Satellite Communications) programme.
In parallel, a contract was signed between Thales Alenia Space (TAS) and the Turkmenistan Ministry of Communications to manufacture the Turkmenistan NSCC satellite based on a Thales Alenia Space SPACEBUS 4000 C2. The satellite will be delivered in-orbit using a SpaceX Falcon 9 booster in late 2014, early 2015.
Under the terms of the agreement between SES and SSI-Monaco, SES will have the rights to commercialize the entire MonacoSat payload of 12 Ku-band transponders on board MonacoSat/TurkmenSpace.
Stated Gerson Souto, Chief Development Officer at SES: “The agreement with SSI-Monaco is a clear win-win achievement for all parties involved. SES, an established satellite operator, is pleased to support the market-entry of new satellite start-ups and the development of new spacefaring nations who wish to participate in the global satellite communications market. SES looks forward to working with SSI-Monaco on this exciting satellite project.”
Dr. Ilhami Aygun, President & CEO of SSI-Monaco, said: “I am confident that the collaboration between SES and SSI-Monaco will be successful in bringing new opportunities to Central Asia, the Middle East, North Africa and Europe.”
