Signing Ceremony for Türksat 4A and Türksat 4B communication satellites

Yıldırım: “Target is the joining to 2023 top 10 list of the World on satellite management”

The signing ceremony for procurement for Türksat 4A and Türksat 4B Satellites and the Project of Technology Transfer on Satellite Manufacturing has been done at the date of 07.March.2011 coincided with Monday (Today) at 10:00 a.m. in the DLH conference hall of the Ministry of Transportation. Mr. Binali Yıldırım, our Minister of Transportation; Dr. Özkan Dalbay, General Director of Türksat; Dr. İbrahim Öz, Deputy General Director of Türksat; Mr. Eiichi Hikima, General Director of Mitsubushi Electric Corporation (MELCO) and Mr. Toru Yunoki, Deputy General Director of MELCO have attended to signing ceremony.

At his speech made in signing ceremony; Mr. Yıldırım, Minister of Transportation, said that “we will provide two new satellites between the years of 2013 and 2014 within the scope of satellite strategy designated in 2005. Accordingly, we, synchronously, launch studies regarding manufacture of Türksat 5A in Turkey”.

Mr. Yıldırım, who expressed that the operation capacity of Türksat satellite increases in parallel with developments on information and communication, added his words that “the target of information society has become a priority issue for underdeveloped or developed countries. While countries constitute their infrastructures of wire or wireless communication; on the other hand, as if they are racing in order to increase their communication levels by means of satellite and space.”

The Minister, Mr. Yıldırım, who expressed that they designated the principles of satellite and space policies of the Turkey until 2023, continued his speech as mentioned below:

“While Turkey, in general mean, is taking its place among 10 biggest economies of the World; it is also targeted to be 10th again on satellite management, satellite capacity and space activities. We have two active satellites now. There were plus two satellites recently; these were first generation satellites. Türksat 1B and 1C were left to oscillation ;after that that is, these were gone to waste. The need for increasing capacity was arisen by considering increased capacity and demand.

The satellite of Türksat 5A is essentially bringing about a strategic alliance on agreement regarding procurement of Türksat 4A and 4B. The agreement to be signed at today was resulted from a comprehensive study made in a period of 1,5 year. The question may be asked such as “why the project is late”. That is the reason; this not only a procurement project of the satellite, but also it is a comprehensive project stipulated that Turkey can manufacture its satellite and also opened the doors of a strategic alliance on space policies.

Mitsubushi Electric Company (MELCO) was the company achieved procurement procedure as a result of compelling meetings and bargains with known satellite manufacturer companies of the World. Mitsubushi Electric Company (MELCO), which is one of the Japan companies and optimum bidder, has winned the tender with around 600 million USD of offer for two satellites, plus, service for launching satellites and insurance costs.”

The Minister, Mr Yıldırım, who stressed that present capacity of Türksat will be tripled, said;

“ We provided the capacity needed by Türksat in short and middle term. On the other hand; we commence a strategic alliance and partnership with MELCO on domestic manufacturing of satellites. At the same time, Japan and Turkish Governments are opening the doors of alliance on space researches by means of this project. We are laying the foundations of cooperation between JAXA and TUK (Turkey Space Agency). The law of the Turkey Space Agency is ready now. We will also perform the becoming law of it.“

Dr. Dalbay, the General Manger, at his speech in the signing ceremony, said that the satellites of Türksat 4A and Türksat 4B will substantially meet the increasing need of satellite capacity. Dr. Dalbay, who gave information on Türksat 4A and Türksat 4B communication satellites, said as mentioned below:

“ We are setting forth that a large quantity of demand will appear for our communication satellites from either Turkey or nearby countries within the stabile atmosphere of our country. We are making efforts to meet capacity demands, which we could not meet as of today, by means of leasing capacity of satellite from foreign satellite operators. Türksat 4A satellite subjected to our project has 2324 Mhz bandwidth. Aforesaid satellite has 3800 Kg launch weight. Türksat 4B satellite will have 3392 Mhz bandwidth and also 3900 Kg weight. Türksat 4 A satellite will be launched at the last three months of the 2013 and Türksat 4 B will be launched at the first three months of the 2014.”

Mr. Eiichi Hikima, who is the General Director of Space Department of MELCO, has started his speech by saying “Good Morning, dear Minister and guests” in Turkish Language. Mr. Hikima, who expressed that he prided himself on being in Turkey for signing ceremony of Türksat 4a and Türksat 4B communication satellites, said as mentioned below:

“We are sure that we will supply reliable communication satellites having high standards in this very important project. The satellite platform to be used was also accepted as reliable by insurance companies of the World. We will not only supply satellites to Turkey by means of this project, but also we believe in that long-standing relationships will be established between two countries. Our studies may not be limited by communication satellites; it may be possible to be widened by means of observation satellites.

We, as being Japan, are expressing that we will provide support to all kinds of studies regarding space in the Turkey. We promise that we will provide customer satisfaction on the highest level and do best things in the Turkey.”

The Members of Board of Türksat Inc. and executive managers of institutes and organizations affiliated with Ministry of Transportation were presented at the signing ceremony.