ANKARA

The fifth-generation satellite by Türkiye’s sole satellite operator, the Turksat 5B, completed its fourth year in space, the country’s Transportation and Infrastructure Minister told Anadolu.

Abdulkadir Uraloglu stated that the Turksat 5B significantly boosted Türkiye’s communications capacity, having been in service for three and a half years.

Uraloglu said the satellite was launched under a contract signed between operator Turksat, Airbus Defense and Space, and SpaceX, and it entered into force on Nov. 1, 2017.

He said the contract ensured not only the satellite's delivery into space but also launch services, the launch process, one-year orbital insurance, operator training, technology transfer training programs, and domestic industry participation in the project.

The integration and the functional and environmental testing of the Turksat 5B were done in accordance with international standards and completed at the manufacturer’s facilities.

“The Turksat 5B was launched into space on Dec. 19, 2021, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, and the satellite started its duty on June 14, 2022, after around five and a half months’ worth of testing and orbital travel—the satellite is a strategic investment to solidify Türkiye’s strength in space and communications,” he said.

Uraloglu stated that the Turksat 5B is one of the concrete examples of the use of Turkish technologies in space, as it made significant contributions to the development of the country’s space ecosystem, as well as its data capacity.

“With a design life of around 15 years, the Turksat 5B can perform its duties for many years thanks to its fully electric propulsion system,” he noted.

Uraloglu mentioned that the Turksat 5B is classified as a high-efficiency satellite with at least 20 times more capacity efficiency compared to Fixed Satellite Service (FSS) class satellites, providing an uninterrupted communications infrastructure for maritime and aviation sectors, as well as for public communications and disasters, while boosting the country’s and the region’s broadband satellite data and Internet connectivity needs.

He said that the Turksat 5B enabled Türkiye to provide commercial services across a large region while also contributing to the domestic communications infrastructure and that of other countries in its coverage area.

The experience gained while developing the Turksat 5B, which is currently the most powerful satellite in Türkiye's fleet, guided the development of the Turksat 6A.

“The 5B paved the way for the Turksat 6A, which is our first homegrown communications satellite launched into space last year,” he said. “The Turksat 5B provided additional capacity to the Turksat 3A and 4A satellites, which were already serving in the same orbit, and the Ka-band capacity increased.”

“Türkiye is continuing its investments in the satellite field, which is of critical importance to national security, disaster management, and digitalization, with the Turksat 7A project,” he added.

Uraloglu stated that the Turksat 5B was at the center of many contacts and deals throughout the year due to its extensive coverage, particularly in the Middle Eastern and African markets.

“Capacity sales enabled Turksat to achieve a strong position in the region, as the Turksat 5B-powered solutions, such as broadband data, Internet connectivity, corporate networks, critical communications, and particularly in-flight internet services, stood out as a reliable offering for public institutions and private sector clients,” he said.

“Turksat held key meetings this year with aviation equipment makers, system integrators, and communications technology providers for in-flight Internet services, one of the most important areas the 5B will be used,” he added.

Uraloglu mentioned that Turksat signed cooperation agreements with China’s two leading satellite operators—Chinasat and Spacesail.

Under Turksat’s deal with Chinasat and Spacesail, Türkiye’s sole satellite operator will jointly develop technologies in in-flight connectivity (IFC), global maritime communications, mobility solutions, disaster and emergency communications, and multi-orbit integration, among others, to be served in the global market.

Uraloglu stated that Turksat signed a deal with international satellite operator Intersputnik to strengthen the global satellite cooperation to develop new solutions and offer customers a wide range of services.

He added that Turksat and the UK-based Avanti Communications signed a deal to strengthen South Africa’s communications infrastructure with broadband data and Internet services via the Turksat 5B.