Work on first domestic comms satellite continues

Turkey has been working on its first domestic communications satellite, Turksat 6A.

Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), the Scientific and Technological Research Council's Space Technologies Research Institute (TÜBİTAK UZAY), ASELSAN and CTECH continue to work together on the first domestic satellite Turksat 6A, which recently entered its final stage. Once completed, Turksat 6A will orbit as Turkey's first communications satellite developed domestically.

After the satellite is positioned at 42 degrees longitude, the 6A system will provide broadband Internet, radio-television broadcast, GSM service and secure communication services to Asia, Europe and Africa (North and Central).

The satellite, which costs about TL 550 million ($155 million), should be launched in 2019. Turksat 6A, which will enter orbit at an altitude of 36,000 kilometers, will have 15 years of service life.

Along with the 5A, 5B and 6A satellites to be launched in 2019, Turkey plans to increase its space efficiency and become one of the leading countries in this field. By increasing the current number of orbits from three to five, Turksat aims to broadcast to 71 percent of the world's terrestrial surface and 91 percent of the world's population.

Turkey will have seven satellites with the addition of three new satellites launched in 2019. The 2A satellite completed service at the beginning of 2016 but is expected to serve three more years in its orbit at 42 degrees east longitude. Meanwhile, the 3A and 4A satellites at 42 degrees and 4B satellite positioned at 50 degrees continue to remain in service for Turkey.