Empresa Argentina de Soluciones Satelitales Sociedad Anónima AR-SAT, usually known simply as ARSAT, is an Argentine government-owned telecommunications company incorporated in 2006 as a Sociedad Anónima through the federal law 26.092. At the time of incorporation, its ownership was shared by the Ministry of Federal Planning, Public Investment and Services (98%) and the Ministry of Economy and Public Finances (2%).

Business lines

Current business products

As of 2014[update], ARSAT had four business lines:

  • TDA (Spanish:Televisión Digital Abierta): A country wide digital terrestrial television SATVD-T broadcasting network. The Argentine government ordered a national terrestrial network, where all licensed broadcasting stations can get their programs transmitted through the common system. ARSAT is in charge of developing and installing the initial 90 broadcasting stations.
  • Argentine Geostationary Communication Satellite System (SSGAT for Spanish:Sistema Satelital Geoestacionario Argentino de Telecomunicaciones): The Argentine government has decided to fund a national satellite system where all ITU assigned geostationary orbital slots are filled with satellites designed and manufactured locally. It currently includes the ARSAT-1, ARSAT-2 and ARSAT-3. Conectar Igualdad (Spanish for Connecting Equality): It's the national program for reducing the digital divide. ARSAT is in charge of the satellite segment of the program through the SSGAT. TDA: ARSAT is also in charge of the satellite broadcasting segment of the national digital television broadcasting network.
  • Federal Fiber Optics Network (ReFeFO for Spanish:Red Federal de Fibra Óptica): The Argentine government has funded a 52,000km (32,000mi) fiber optic network to transport Internet, Digital Television, Telephony and private data. ARSAT is in charge of its construction and operation. Conectar Igualdad: ARSAT is also in charge of leveraging the RFFO for this digital divide program. TDA: ARSAT is also in charge of connecting the TDA terrestrial network through the RFFO.
  • Data Center: In its ground station in Benavídez, Tigre Partido, Buenos Aires, ARSAT has built and operates a 4,200m2(45,000sqft) TIER III certified data center.
  • CEATSA: An environmental testing laboratory. While it is physically connected to INVAP's satellite manufacturing facility, ARSAT holds a majority ownership (80% as of 2015).

Former business products

  • Libre.ar (cancelled): In December 2012, gave ARSAT a mandate to set up a cellular network that would be open to small operators. This was possible because the Government had kept a set of frequency bands for a national network operator. The program never materialized and just 18 months later the frequencies were put up for auction.

Satellites

SatelliteLaunch (UTC)Launch VehicleLaunch siteOrbitPayloadStatusNotes
Nahuel 1A22:04,January30,1997(UTC)(1997-01-30T22:04:00Z)Ariane 44L (V93)Guiana Space Centre ELA-2GSO 71.8 West27 Ku band TPERetired on June 7, 2010Launched along GE-2
ARSAT-121:43:52,October16,2014(UTC)(2014-10-16T21:43:52Z)Ariane 5ECA (VA220)Guiana Space Centre ELA-3GSO 71.8 West32 Ku band TPEOperationalLaunched along Intelsat 30
ARSAT-220:30,September30,2015(UTC)(2015-09-30T20:30:00Z)Ariane 5ECA (VA226)Guiana Space Centre ELA-3GSO 81 West24 IEEE Ku band TPE and 13 C band TPEOperationalLaunched along Sky Muster
ARSAT SG-12025TBATBAGSO 81 Westmulti spot Ka band bent-pipeIn DevelopmentUnder construction.

See also

External links