GUILDFORD, U.K. - Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL) and Kypros Satellites (Kyprosat) have signed an agreement to collaborate on a turnkey, low-cost geostationary telecommunications satellite system. The solution is based on SSTL's small GMP-T geostationary satellite platform which delivers up to 5.5kW power, offered together with orbital slot assets and asset management services provided by Kyprosat.
The signing of the agreement took place in Limassol, Cyprus on 5th September 2014, and was attended by the Cyprus Minister of Communications and Works, Mr. Marios Demetriades together with representatives from SSTL, Kyprosat, and Mr Joerg Kreisel, the CEO of JKIC.
SSTL's GMP-T platform is a flexible small satellite design which delivers up to 5.5kW of power and up to 8GHz of Ka-band or 1GHz or Ku-band. The platform is designed to stack in pairs for launch, thus reducing launch costs.
According to SSTL, the contract represents a new framework for satellite delivery contracts. Traditionally satellite operators are also the orbital slot 'owners' where they also undertake the arduous and complex process of engineering a solution that meets their requirements, while also dealing with the procurement process, the legal, legislative and financing aspects of a project. The Kyprosat-SSTL collaborative solution encompasses the satellite and mission design, manufacture and test, launch, in-orbit and ground segment service management, licensing and regulatory management, financing, and insurance services, offering a cost-effective and less complex approach for in-orbit satellite ownership, and opening up the telecommunications market to new players.
SSTL is no stranger to alternative arrangements when it comes to satellite contracts. The company operates the Disaster Monitoring Constellation (DMC), a remote sensing network characterized by a cooperative relationship between SSTL and its customers. Under the DMC, customers can either own satellites, or lease satellites that are operated by SSTL. All of the satellites form a network that operators share for disaster monitoring. But operators can sell images from their own satellites as well.
This model of a more cooperative arrangement between manufacturer and operator could increase in popularity going forward and more countries and organizations work to build their own satellite networks. Sharing expertise is one strategy manufacturers can use to get contracts in developing countries with ambitions to build their own satellite manufacturing capabilities.
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