Russia’s Gazprom linking with SES?

25-11-2009


Russian conglomerate Gazprom is looking to create a joint-venture that takes a dramatic new look at Russian broadcasting. One well-sourced report suggests its new partner could be Luxembourg-based SES.

Theo Piraud, from the Space Information Centre in Belgium, says: "JSC Gazprom Space Systems, the subsidiary of the giant Russian gas company, is the new name of Gascom, the only private Russian operator of geosynchronous broadcast satellites in Russia. While it is searching for investors to finance the Yamal 401/402 contracts with Thales Alenia Space (for the satellites) and with Arianespace (for the launch services), it is negotiating with a non-Russian operator of communications & broadcasting satellites to establish a joint venture."

Piraud says that Africa is an important goal for many satellite operators. Well-known names such as Intelsat, SES, Eutelsat, Measat (from Malaysia) and Israel's Spacecom (with its AMOS 5i craft), are looking closely at Africa's prospects. But Gazprom Space Systems (with the powerful Yamal craft developed by Thales Alenia Space, if funded) is also looking for business in this continent where ground infrastructure for communications and broadcasts remain poorly developed and usually heavily regulated.

Gazprom Space Systems is facing a lack of capacity to supply customers and a financial problem to find investors for its expansion plan (because of pressure from Russia's government to cancel the Yamal 401/402 contract with European satellite manufacturers). The Russian private operator is looking for the establishment of a joint venture with a well-established operator of communications and broadcasting satellites in order to compete more efficiently with the public RSCC (Russian Satellite Communication Company) which develops global services from Russia.