MegaFon to invest 6 bln rbl in satellite data transfer systems

MOSCOW, Oct 29 (PRIME) -- Russian mobile operator MegaFon will invest 6 billion rubles during the next two years to develop a system of satellite data transfer and its unit, MegaFon 1440, which will research low Earth-orbiting satellite systems for high-speed data transfer, will start working on November 16, MegaFon said on Thursday in a statement.

MegaFon 1440 will be headed by Alexei Shelobkov, who will combine the new role with the current position of managing director at tech company YADRO.

The research office will focus on construction of an effective economic model and a technological case for satellite systems and will design prototypes of equipment, both of satellites and infrastructure solutions for mass market, and will test them on land and in space.

“Our goal is to apply experience and approaches of the technological industry in the aerospace industry. We are to tackle several tasks over two years,” Shelobkov said.

“First, it’s an economic task. We aim to design such a model that will make the use of low Earth-orbiting satellites for data transfer profitable. For this, we’ll focus on cutting the production cost of satellites and online equipment. Second, we’re going to engage a wide pool of experts and investment partners in the project…Third, we’ll test new technologies in real conditions. We plan to launch the first orbital missions of MegaFon 1440 satellites on the horizon of five years.”

(77.5520 rubles – U.S. $1)

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