Tunisia is planning to launch into orbit, with help from Russia, a constellation of 30 satellites for telecommunications by 2023. An agreement was signed in that regard last week in Skolkovo, Russia, by Tunisia’s TELNET Holding and the two Russian companies SPUTNIX and GK Launch Services.
The partnership was initiated in April this year through the signing of an agreement for the launch by next year of TELNET’s very first satellite called “Challenge One”. The paper was signed by CEO Mohamed Frikha and Alexander V Serkin, CEO of GK Launch Services. Challenge One will be launched by GK Launch Services on the “Soyuz-2” rockey.
According to Mohamed Frikha, it is the first agreement which sparked the 3 companies’ desire to strengthen their cooperation; “given the potential of what we can build together,” he said.
In addition to rocket construction, the tripartite partnership seeks to develop new space technologies and tailored telecommunications solutions for Tunisia and the global market. It also aims to pave the way for space industry development in Tunisia.