Angola’s first satellite schedule to start operating in 1Q 2017

Angosat, Angola’s first satellite, is expected to be placed in orbit and become operational in the first quarter of 2017, the Angolan Secretary of State for Telecommunications said recently in Calai, Kwando Kubango province. “Construction of Angosat is on schedule, in September 2016 the satellite will be ready and in early 2017, in March at the latest, we will have the satellite in orbit,” said Aristides Safeca. Construction of the satellite, with an estimated cost of 37 billion kwanza (USD378 million), is underway in Angola by a Russian consortium led by RSC group, and also involves Russian financing, from the VTB bank and Ruseximbank as announced in December 2012. Once the satellite starts operating Angola will have services to support electronic telecommunications, including broadband and television services. Angosat will have a lifespan of 15 years and the project includes creation of two tracking stations in Angola and Russia.