Ahmet Arslan, Minister of Transport, Maritime Affairs and Communications, stated that the space, aviation and communications sector is an area where mental effort is very prominent.
At the Türksat and Inmarsat Strategic Cooperation Promotion Meeting, Minister Arslan stated that the cooperation in question is very important and will set an example for future cooperation in this geography and said, "We will create more added value for our people from this." he said.
Expressing that the cooperation will be the beginning and harbinger of new collaborations and partnerships that will further expand Turkey in the field of satellite and space in line with strategic goals, Arslan said that this is the beginning of efforts to increase the services to be provided to institutions and individuals within the framework of universal norms.
Explaining that Türksat, in addition to being a satellite operator, also operates as a cable operator and public IT solution center, Arslan noted that Türksat 2A, which is the oldest of Turkey's 4 communication satellites in space and whose useful life expired last year, will continue to be used in oscillating orbit until 2019.
Pointing out that the work on new satellites continues at full speed, Arslan stated that they aim to launch the Türksat 5A satellite into space towards the end of 2018 to be operated in 31 degrees East orbit, and the Türksat 5B satellite in the first half of 2019 to provide satellite backup in 42 degrees East orbit and increase the current capacity.
Stating that the government's nationalization projects in strategic areas and value-added businesses are being implemented one by one, Arslan noted that in this context, the Türksat 6A satellite, whose software and design will be completely domestic, will be sent into space in 2020.
Stating that the total budget of the project is 546 million lira, Arslan said that in addition to commercial activities such as television broadcasting, military communications will also take place on the Türksat 6A satellite. Arslan stated that with Türksat 6A, Turkey will be among the 10 countries that produce their own communication satellites.
Stating that the Draft Law on the establishment of the Turkish Space Agency and the regulation of space-related activities has been brought to the stage of being sent to the parliament, Arslan stated that with the establishment of the space agency, Turkey will progress much faster in the field of space technologies.
Arslan stated that the Space Strategies High Council will be established under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım, including the relevant ministers, in order to ensure the coordination of the projects carried out by various organizations, and that Turkey's existing infrastructure and capabilities in the field of space will be rapidly developed.
Stating that Türksat has entered into a strategic partnership with Inmarsat, which provides services in the field of mobile satellite communications to the land, air and maritime sectors, Arslan stated that within the scope of the contract signed between Türksat and Inmarsat on March 8, Türksat will have the opportunity to offer mobile satellite communication services in addition to the existing satellite communication services it offers on a regional scale.
Arslan stated that with the agreement between the two companies, Inmarsat products will be sold to public institutions and said:
"The opportunity will also be provided for one or more Turkish manufacturers to produce Inmarsat equipment. It is important to provide such an opportunity. The promotion and sale of Inmarsat's L Band and GX products to public institutions and organizations, military institutions and aviation authorities in Turkey will now be possible by Türksat."
Stating that they attach importance to the fact that possible ground stations of Inmarsat satellites to be launched in the future within the scope of cooperation can be established in Turkey, Arslan said:
"The work to be carried out to popularize S Band communications in Turkey, and in this sense, the work to be done to produce Inmarsat terminals in Turkey, are also important pillars of this cooperation. Developing the cooperation of the two operators as a strategic partnership based on doing business by sharing knowledge and experience is one of our important goals."
"We must take our steps faster and bigger"
Stating that with the steps taken, international collaborations have been developed and the country has gained significant experience in space and aviation, Arslan emphasized that its ability to produce domestic products in these areas has improved. Arslan said, "From now on, we have to create areas where we can put not only sweat but also sweat of mind. In this context, the space, aviation and communications sector is an important field where sweat of mind is very prominent. We also need to take faster and bigger steps." he said.
Arslan underlined that they consider it important to minimize foreign dependency in the field of satellite technologies, increase the existing opportunities and capabilities, use the country's resources efficiently, and transform knowledge in this field into production and added value.
"Inmarsat's fourth ground station will be established in Turkey"
Türksat General Manager Cenk Şen also stated that Türksat's main areas of activity are satellite, cable and IT services, and said that Türkiye currently has 4 satellites in space. Stating that the two most important satellites are Türksat 4A and Türksat 4B, Şen noted that their coverage area should be constantly expanded depending on national goals, and for this purpose, they aim to send Türksat 5A, Türksat 5B and Türksat 6A satellites into space by 2020.
Stating that they aim to cooperate with Inmarsat not only for commercial purposes but also for technology transfer, Şen said that the company, headquartered in England, was founded in 1979. Stating that relations with Inmarsat, which provides mobile communication services in sea, land and air areas, started in 2013, Şen stated that the fourth ground station in the world, where Inmarsat's satellite services are provided, will be established in Turkey.
Şen added that in addition to technology transfer with Inmarsat, efforts to provide broadband internet for air travel by using satellite are continuing.
“Strategic partnership with Türksat is extremely attractive”
Inmarsat CEO Rupert Pearce stated that their strategic partnership with Türksat is extremely attractive and said, "We continue to see Turkey and the Turkish economy as a very exciting area to invest. Stating that Inmarsat's attitude towards the partnership opportunity in question has not been affected by the recent events, Pearce said, regarding the failed coup attempt on July 15, "Everyone who follows the latest developments admires the strength, courage and fortitude shown by the Turkish nation in such difficult times. "He watched it," he said.
Pearce pointed out that the strategic partnership between the two companies offers tremendous potential for the common business and technology ecosystem in Turkey and the Turkish economy, and said:
"Inmarsat has invested more than 4 billion dollars in recent years. In order to provide better service to our customers, we continue to invest more than 500 million dollars annually in R&D. We believe that this partnership will make a significant contribution to the development of a widespread digital society in Turkey."
Pointing out that the cooperation between Inmarsat and Türksat can have a real national and international impact, Pearce said, "I can say that the future looks very bright for the strategic cooperation of Inmarsat and Türksat and we are very excited about the first steps we will take together." he said.
Following the speeches, a boat using an aviation module was visually tracked on the river from Graz, Austria, and the images were transferred to the ground station via Inmarsat satellite and delivered to the meeting hall in Ankara via Turksat's VSAT terminal.
