WORLD> Europe
Turkey plans to launch two satellites in six years
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-09-10 17:20

ANKARA -- Turkey's satellite operator Turksat said on Wednesday that it plans to launch two satellites, Turksat 4A and Turksat 5A, in six years, the semi-official Anatolia news agency reported.

Turksat has started work for a new satellite dubbed Turksat 4A which is planned to cover north and central Africa, Turksat Director-General Ozkan Dalbay was quoted as saying.

"The coverage area of Turkish satellites will stretch out from eastern coast of the United States to China, and also from Arabian Peninsula to central Africa," he added.

Turksat plans to invite bids for Turksat 4A at the end of 2008 and launch the satellite in 2011, Dalbay said.

In addition, Turksat considers to build one more satellite within six years with 100 percent national software, Dalbay said, adding that Turksat 5A would be built at facilities of the Turkish Aerospace Industries in 2012 and be launched in 2014.

In June, Turkey launched in French Guiana a new generation communication satellite, dubbed Turksat 3A, to replaced former satellite Turksat 1C.

Dalbay said several national and international TV channels and technology companies had asked Turksat to use Turksat 3A.