The African broadband initiative agreed between Eutelsat and Facebook, and which see Israeli satellite operator Spacecom leasing Ka-band capacity on its AMOS-6 satellite, has been priced at $95 million (€84.1m) in overall lease costs over a 5-year period.

The agreement sees Spacecom supplying Ka-band spot-0beam capacity on its upcoming AMOS-6 craft, scheduled to launch in mid-2016.

Spacecom, in a Tel Aviv stock exchange filing, states that the deal could be extended by a further two years at the reduced/wholesale rates agreed.

Additionally it has emerged that Eutelsat and Facebook will be covered with their own separate insurance policy in the event of problems with the launch or availability of the satellite.

Also stated is that the Israeli ground-based Earth station ‘gateway’ will be handed over the Spacecom at the end of the lease.  Spacecom, as part of the deal, has to secure the necessary licenses  to cover the frequencies covered by the agreement.

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Categories: Articles, Broadband, Satellite