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Spacecom

Spacecom, or Space Communication, is an Israeli communications satellite operator in the Middle East, European Union and North America headquartered in the city of Ramat Gan, Israel. Spacecom operates two satellites at orbital position 4° West – AMOS-3 and AMOS-7, one satellite at orbital position 65° East – AMOS-4, and one satellite at orbital position 17° East – AMOS-5.

History

Spacecom was established in 1993 with the defined goal of marketing AMOS-1, a newly built communication satellite manufactured by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). In 2003, Spacecom launched its second satellite, AMOS-2, owned entirely by the company. In 2008, the AMOS-3 satellite was launched to replace AMOS-1 and increase coverage and traffic abilities.[2]

Until 2005, Spacecom was a private company controlled by four companies, including IAI and Eurocom Group. It went public on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange in 2005.[3][4][5]

In August 2016, Spacecom shareholders agreed to sell the company for US$500 million to Beijing Xinwei Technology Group (China) via a Luxembourg business entity.[6] The deal, announced 24 August 2016, was pending the successful entry into service of AMOS-6 after the launch.[7] On 1 September 2016, two days before the scheduled launch date, the satellite was destroyed during the run-up to a static fire test of the Falcon 9 launch vehicle. Later statements from both companies stated that negotiations were ongoing, but that the purchase price was likely to be reduced.[8][9] However, by April 2017 talks between Spacecom and Xinwei had failed, and Spacecom began a new search for buyers.[10] In October 2021 Spacecom and 4iG Plc., a Hungarian information technology and telecommunications company, signed an agreement in which 4iG is acquiring a majority stake (51%) in Spacecom.[11]

Coverage

Spacecom satellites provide coverage to most of the Middle East, Europe, Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa.

Services

  • Direct-to-Home broadcasting (DTH)
  • Broadband telephony
  • Radio
  • Satellite Internet
  • VSAT

Fleet

Former

In orbit

  • AMOS-1
  • AMOS-2 (4° West)
  • AMOS-5 (17° East) – Israeli satellite launched from Kazakhstan in 2011 by Russia's Proton-M launch vehicle to provide services to customers in Africa.[12][13] AMOS-5 initiated commercial operations in early 2012 with C-band and Ku-band beams.[14] On 21 November 2015, all communications with the AMOS-5 satellite were lost.[15]
  • AMOS-3 (4° West)
  • AMOS-4 (65° East) – was successfully launched on 31 August 2013 from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. It will offer coverage across Southeast Asia along with high power coverage beams offering communication links from East Asia to the Middle East.
  • AMOS-7 (4° West) – Lease of AsiaSat 8

See also

External links

References

  1. Space Communication Ltd. – Profile, Tel Aviv Stock Exchange. Retrieved 1 July 2018.^
  2. Susan J. Campbell. Spacecom Seeks to Dominate Satellite Communications Industry with AMOS Line TCMnet.com, 7 November 2011, retrieved 14 November 2011^
  3. Spacecom: Amos 2 will reach full capacity by year-end Globes, 22 March 2004, retrieved 12 December 2011^
  4. אלון אפרתי. http://www.globes.co.il/news/article.aspx?did=1000041985 Globes, 21 December 2005, retrieved 12 December 2011^
  5. Donald H. Martin. Communication Satellites Aerospace Press, 2007, retrieved 12 December 2011^
  6. Chinese group to buy Israel's Spacecom satellite operator for $500 million 24 August 2016, retrieved 24 August 2016^
  7. Falcon 9 explosion could have ripple effects across space industry 1 September 2016, retrieved 1 September 2016^
  8. Beijing Xinwei still in talks to buy Spacecom but for a reduced price Reuters, 30 November 2016, retrieved 13 December 2016^
  9. Caleb Henry. Spacecom says acquisition talks with Beijing group are still ongoing SpaceNews, 7 December 2016, retrieved 13 December 2016^
  10. Caleb Henry. Spacecom back on the market after Xinwei talks fizzle out SpaceNews, 24 April 2017, retrieved 10 May 2017^
  11. Hungary's 4iG Telecom Group Acquires Control of Spacecom at Valuation of over USD 124 Million – Spacecom – AMOS Satellites, Communication and More^
  12. Chris Bergin. Russian Proton M launches Luch-5A and AMOS-5 satellites NASASpaceFlight.com, 11 December 2011, retrieved 12 December 2011^
  13. Spacecom's Amos-5 communications satellite begins operations Globes, 24 January 2012, retrieved 16 February 2012^
  14. Robert Briel. SatLink launches Amos-5 platforms Broadband TV News, 1 February 2012, retrieved 16 February 2012^
  15. Contact Lost With Israeli Communication Satellite Amos-^
  16. End of the road for AMOS-2^
  17. Tariq Malik. SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket Explodes on Launch Pad in Florida SPACE.com, 1 September 2016, retrieved 1 September 2016^
  18. Spacecom begins service with a borrowed satellite rebranded Amos-7^
  19. SpaceX successfully launches twice-flown Falcon 9, catches fairing at sea retrieved August 6, 2019^
  20. AMOS 1 → Intelsat 24 Gunter's Space Page, 2016-04-17, retrieved 2016-08-06^
  21. AMOS-2 Gunter's Space Page, 2016-04-17, retrieved 2016-08-06^
  22. AMOS 3 (AMOS 60) Gunter's Space Page, 2016-04-17, retrieved 2016-08-06^
  23. AMOS 4 Gunter's Space Page, 2016-04-17, retrieved 2016-08-06^
  24. AMOS 5 Gunter's Space Page, 2016-04-17, retrieved 2016-08-06^
  25. AMOS 6 Gunter's Space Page, 2016-04-17, retrieved 2016-08-06^