The signing ceremony took place in the presence of the participants and guests of the forum, including the Minister of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media of the Russian Federation Konstantin Noskov and the Minister of Communications and Informatization of the Republic of Belarus Konstantin Shulgan. The document was signed by Yuri Prokhorov, RSCC Director General, and Anatoly Vankovich, Director of “Precise Electromechanics Factory” State Enterprise.

The cooperation agreement provides for exchanges of requisite technical information and consultations of experts on the joint use of the existing RSCC satellite constellation capacity. Also discussed were new satellites, created as part of the program to expand the Russian orbital constellation of communications and broadcasting spacecraft. In particular, this refers to the participation of the Belarusian enterprise in the development of RSCC’s Express-AMU6 (53 ° E) satellite and the transfer to it of the traffic currently handled by the Belintersat-1 after expiry of its service life.

“Precise Electromechanics Factory” State Enterprise plans to use the capacity of the RSCC orbital constellation including the Express-AMU6 in the C-, Ku- and Ka-bands. The parties also agreed on the use of the RSCC ground infrastructure and the Belintersat ground control facilities. In addition, the agreement provides for cooperation of Russian and Belarusian designer and manufacturing entities for purposes of development and serial production of satellite earth stations for mobile platforms.

Yuri Prokhorov, RSCC General Director, said: “We highly appreciate partner relations with our Belarusian colleagues in the field of satellite communications. We hope that the research and technological potential of the Fine Electromechanics Plant and the agreements reached today will become a reliable basis for long-term mutually beneficial cooperation between our enterprises in the implementation of high-tech projects in the interests of users of satellite communications services in the Union State and in other countries”.

“For our company, the signing of the cooperation agreement with RSCC, Russia’s national satellite operator and one of the world’s largest, is a major milestone in the development of the national satellite communications and broadcasting system of the Republic of Belarus. Cooperative relations with RSCC will broaden the scope and enhance the quality of satellite communications services provided by Belintersat, enable us to gain new experience in implementing international projects and, importantly, give another impetus to the development of the space industry in our country,” said Anatoly S. Vankovich, Director of RPUP Fine Electromechanics Plant.