 | Issue: | Latin America I 1996 |
| Article no.: | 10 | |
| Topic: | Lift off! | |
| Author: | Eckart Schober | |
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |
| Organisation: | NahuelSat S.A | |
| PDF size: | 0KB |
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Article abstract
Early in 1997 the satellite “Nahuel 1” will enter service for the first time. The satellite has been designed to serve the needs of Argentina, the countries of Cono Sur and the countries of Mercosur, and its launching is the result of years of close co-operation between the international partners of NahuelSat S.A.
Full Article
CW: As Latin America looks forward to an exciting era of increased expansion in service coverage that the launch of “Nahuel 1” could herald, do you have any particular message for the governments of the countries in the continent concerning the question of national and regional coverage as they device their satellite strategies for the 21st century – specifically with regard to the dangers of monopolies in the sector, and, cooperation with new companies? ES: Satellite communications started 30 years ago with international monopolies: INTELSAT and INMARSAT which are intergovernmental organizations. INMARSAT serves the needs of mobile maritime communications and, INTELSAT provides “fixed satellite services” mainly for international, intercontinental telephony. Nowadays 139 states are members and INTELSAT is attacking more and more regional and domestic markets including TV, compensating for capacity losses due to competition from fiber optic cables. INTELSAT will be privatized, but starting from an operation of 24 satellites in orbit worlwide they will impose their dominance on smaller operating companies. PANAMSAT, the only worldwide competitor, has been taken over and will be integrated into Hughes Galaxy, anaother giant operating from the US and attacking global markets.
