Posted by 
The resources of the first Azerbaijani satellite Azerspace/Africasat-1a will be used for ensuring safety of such projects as the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) and other oil pipelines used to deliver energy resources to Europe, Azerbaijani Communications and IT Minister Ali Abbasov told media today.
According to the minister, the resources of the Turkish satellite Turksat are currently used for this purpose.
According to the minister, the Turkish satellite and French Hotbird compete with the Azerbaijani satellite in the region.
Such key main lines as the BTC oil pipeline and gas pipelines are in the range of Azerspace. The Azerbaijani satellite is able to provide these routes with the necessary requirements for the secure exchange of information and governance and Turkish satellite could act as alternative.
Azerspace/Africasat-1a was launched from the start complex ELA-3 at the Guiana Space Centre on Feb. 8.
The payload of Azerspace/Africasat-1, built on the STAR-2 platform, consists of 36 transponders (24 C-band transponders and a 12 Ku-band range). The frequency band of each transponder is 36 MHz. The satellite weights 3275 kg and it service life in orbit will reach up to 14 years.
The satellite will be launched into geostationary orbit at 46 degrees east longitude and is leased from Malaysia’s Measat Satellite Systems, owned by the government of Malaysia. Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia and North Africa will be included in the service area of Azerspace.
The Azerbaijani satellite Azerspace/Africasat-1 is designed to provide digital broadcasting, Internet access, data transmission and the creation of VSAT multiservice networks and governmental communications.
