Off the wire
• 1st LD-Writethru: China eyes carbon emission peak at around 2030  • Urgent: Greece proposes two-year deal with ESM to avert default  • China on bold move to build low-carbon energy system  • Over 1 mln Swiss suffer work-related health issues in 2013: statistics  • 2nd LD Writethru-Xinhua Insight: Xi stresses CPC governance at county level  • Iran says nuclear talks to continue in following days for "good deal"  • Full Text: Enhanced Actions on Climate Change: China's Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (4)  • Full Text: Enhanced Actions on Climate Change: China's Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (5)  • OSI China loses 6 bln yuan over meat scandal  • Urgent: China has submitted to UN self-imposed targets on emission cuts -- premier  
You are here: 　 Home

EDA launches feasibility study on gov't satellite communications

Xinhua, June 30, 2015 Adjust font size:

The European Defence Agency launched a one-million-euro (1.12 million U.S. dollars), 18-month feasibility study to prepare a future cooperative governmental satellite communications (Govsatcom) program, it announced Tuesday.

The study will be delivered by a consortium led by Euroconsult, an international consulting company, with Airbus Defence & Space, CGI, Istituto Affari Internazionali, Hisdesat and SpaceTec Partners working as subcontractors.

This work is expected to be complemented by other studies funded by the European Space Agency (ESA). Some synergies are also expected with the work currently performed by the European Commission.

"This study will help us to find new ways to cooperate in a complex institutional setting," EDA chief executive Jorge Domecq said while signing the study contract.

"Considering that Govsatcom capabilities are inherently dual-use, one of the main objectives will be to identify an efficient, innovative and sustainable cooperation model in particular by implementing synergies with the European Commission. This will certainly be reflected by a genuine governance of the system," he added.

"Government satellite communications are evolving, due to changes in operational requirements and to the availability of innovative and cost effective solutions serving these," stated Euroconsult CEO Pacome Revillon.

"The international consortium combines expertise across the full satellite communications value chain, while the project governance will guarantee the independence and neutrality of the results. All partners are fully committed to delivering a study that lays the groundwork for future European capability," he said.

Govsatcom was identified in December 2013 by EU heads of state and government as one of four priorities for capability development, along with air-to-air refueling, remotely piloted aircraft systems and cyber defense. Endit