Vivacom has launched a new earth station that will support Eutelsat’s OneWeb business.
This facility is only the fourth of its kind in Europe and one of only 35 operating in the world. It will enable expanded communications services for Eutelsat Group’s low Earth orbit (LEO) connectivity services.
Construction of the earth station began in November 2022 and completed the following May. It then underwent a successful testing-and-commissioning procedure.
“We are happy that in just one year, we were able to launch this important project, which will bring long-term benefits to business and society in our country… We believe that, with the right strategic vision, targeted investments and the high expertise of our team, we can set standards on a global scale and attract even more international technology companies who are ready to invest in Bulgaria,” said Nikolay Andreev, CEO of Vivacom.
The earth station is located at Vivacom’s site in the municipality of Stara Zagora where it will provide additional jobs in the region for the next 10 years. The ground station consists of 18 antennas and a mini data centre that connects the LEO satellites to the optical network and data centres in Bulgaria and Europe.
“Vivacom not only brings a wealth of telecommunications expertise but also invaluable local knowledge, making them an essential partner,” said Massimiliano Ladovaz, Chief Operations Officer, Eutelsat Group.
The project comes 42 years after Stara Zagora made headlines with its contribution to the first Bulgarian satellite Intercosmos Bulgaria 1300.
