The first-ever communications satellite licensed by Gibraltar has been launched into space.
The satellite, known as GE-1A, a high-powered Ku-band satellite located at 108.2° East Longitude, was launched on 1 October 2000 aboard a Proton launcher from Baikonur in Kazakhstan. GE-1A is the first of a number of satellites that GE Capital Satellites (Gibraltar) Ltd will operate from a satellite control centre being established in Gibraltar.
The satellite will provide coverage of China, Northeast Asia, including the Philippines, and South Asia, including India, and includes 28 transponders with 36 MHz bandwidth suitable for broadcast programme distribution, direct-to-home applications, broadband data networks and VSAT applications.
Gibraltar issued its first-ever licence for the launch and operation of this satellite in geosynchronous orbit in 1998. The licence was granted by the Wireless Officer to GE Capital Satellites (Gibraltar) Ltd under the Outer Space Act of the United Kingdom, which was extended to Gibraltar in 1996.
In assessing the application for this Outer Space Act licence, Gibraltar was greatly assisted by the British National Space Centre in London which carried out all the technical investigations and has been in close contact with Gibraltar.
The grant of the Outer Space Act licence followed from the Heads of Agreement which the Government of Gibraltar signed in March 1997 with GE Capital Satellites (Gibraltar) Ltd, a subsidiary of GE American Communications, Inc. regarding a proposed Gibraltar-based satellite network. That agreement detailed the relationship between GE Capital Satellites (Gibraltar) Ltd and the Government regarding filings made to the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) for use by GE of orbital locations to serve Europe, Africa and the Asia-Pacific regions.
Commenting on the imminent launch of the first 'Gibraltar satellite' the Minister for Trade, Industry and Telecommunications, Keith Azopardi, said he was delighted that this important first was being achieved for a project that was spearheading a new industry for Gibraltar. The Minister added that GE had already recruited staff in Gibraltar and he looked forward with confidence to the start of the operation in Gibraltar that would involve significant investment.
GE American Communications, Inc. has been in business since 1973 and has pioneered the satellite distribution of video entertainment programming. It is one of the world's largest telecommunications satellite services providers.
.
Network Tweets
Network BlogsContent
provided by
|
Archive | Resources | Partners | Site Map | Links | Newsletter Archive | Contact | RSS Feeds | About | Syndication | Advertising & Marketing | Recruitment | Terms & Conditions | Privacy & Cookies
Copyright © 2012 - All Rights Reserved - Tax-News.com
IMPORTANT NOTICE: Tax-News.com has taken reasonable care in sourcing and presenting the information contained on this site, but accepts no responsibility for any financial or other loss or damage that may result from its use. In particular, users of the site are advised to take appropriate professional advice before committing themselves to involvement in offshore jurisdictions, offshore trusts or offshore investments.
Write a comment