Alcatel and RascomStar-QAF (a pan-African satellite service operator)
signed a $150 million contract to build and deliver the first
Regional African Satellite Communications Organization (RASCOM)
telecommunications satellite and ground infrastructure including
mission, business, and ground control.
RASCOM is a conglomerate of 44 African telecommunications operators,
which hopes by 2006 to have established voice, data telecommunications,
internet access and broadcasting satellite services for the entire
continent.
The RASCOM satellite is based on the high-capacity, high-performance
Spacebus 3000B3 satellite platform. The ground system will consist
of gateway earth stations and solar-powered terminals for rural
areas.
"This ambitious project is a natural part of our business
since we believe that every human being should benefit from communications
with others," said Pascale Sourisse, chairman and CEO of
Alcatel Space.
