Spacecom’s new satellite will provide television broadcasting and Internet services mainly to the African continent.
By World Israel News Staff
Israeli communications satellite operator Spacecom has received the green-light to launch its “Amos 17” satellite into space on August 4 or 5, depending on weather conditions, from the Cape Canaveral Space Center in Florida.
Amos 17 will provide television broadcasting and Internet services mainly to the African continent. It was built by U.S. aviation corporation Boeing and will be launched by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, according to Globes.
Spacecom credited these companies and their advanced technologies for creating this unique satellite, which has an expected 20 years of service. The satellite establishes Spacecom’s international standing as a provider of innovative communications services.
“Africa is a huge continent,” Eran Shapiro, director, Business and Technology Ventures at Spacecom, told reporters. “It’s the fastest growing continent. By the end of the century, Asia and Africa will be equal in terms of population, which means that in terms of the percentage of the young population, it will be the largest young population in the world, so there will be a demand for content.”
At the time of launch, Amos 17 will weigh 6.5 tons with more than half of that weight fuel. It is 35 meters long with its solar panels open. The cost of the satellite is $250 million. The satellite is supposed to reach a point of 36,000 kilometers from Earth.
The current launch is the first by the company since its 2016 disaster, when its Amos 6 exploded before launching.
With Amos 17’s supreme technology over its competitors above the African continent, Spacecom is expecting one of its contracts to be with Facebook.
The satellite has already undergone thousands of tests to help ensure a smooth launch.
Spacecom already has $58 million in backlogged orders for communications services in Africa as well as other services.
With a successful launch of Amos 17, the company plans to increase sales and sign more large contracts, making it a leading multi-regional satellite operator, according to Globes.