Boeing to provide satellite communication system to Mexico
By IANSMonday, December 20, 2010
LOS ANGELES - Boeing Company has said that it will provide a satellite communications system to Mexico under a one-billion-dollar contract.
The system, known as MEXSAT, will consist of three satellites, two ground sites, associated network operations systems and reference user terminals, Boeing said in a statement Monday.
MEXSAT will provide secure communications for Mexico’s national security needs, as well as enhanced coverage for the country’s civil telecommunications, Xinhua said quoting the company statement.
“MEXSAT is the fourth generation of satellites Boeing has provided to Mexico for government and civilian satellite communications,” Craig Cooning, CEO of Boeing Satellite Systems International, was quoted as saying.
“MEXSAT builds on Boeing’s 13 years of experience in designing and delivering advanced geomobile systems.”
As per the agreement, Boeing will deliver a complete turnkey satellite system comprised of Boeing 702HP geomobile satellites MEXSAT-1 and MEXSAT-2 and one extended C- and Ku-band satellite, MEXSAT-3, which will provide fixed satellite services from geosynchronous orbit.
MEXSAT-3 is scheduled to launch by the end of 2012.
Boeing will also develop two ground sites in Mexico with advanced beam-forming flexibility to direct mobile user spot beams to government agencies operating in Mexico and its patrimonial seas, including the Pacific Ocean and Gulf of Mexico, the statement said.
Boeing has previously provided five satellites that serve Mexico, beginning with Morelos 1 and Morelos 2, both launched in 1985. The Solidaridad 1 and Solidaridad 2 satellites were launched in 1993 and 1994, while Satmex 5 was launched in 1998.
