Today, two satellites Yamal-200 were launched from the Baikonur cosmodrom. The satellites have successfully been put onto a preset orbit.

Gazprom’s delegation headed by Deputy Chairman of the Management Committee, Alexander Ananenkov, attended the launch. The delegation also included the Management Committee Member, Head of Gas Transportation, Underground Storage and Utilization Department, Bogdan Budzulyak, Head of Department of Automation, Information Technology, Telecommunications and Metrology, Alexei Lisin, and Head of Information Policy Department, Alexander Bespalov.

The Yamal-200 satellites will expand the Yamal satellite communication system that nowadays comprises the Yamal-100 satellite.

One of the two Yamal-200 satellites lunched is equipped with C- and Q-range transponders and will be placed in the orbital position of 90° EL, similar to the Yamal-100 satellite. Yamal-200 will be basically used for the development and reservation of the customers’ networks operating through Yamal-100.

The 2nd satellite put into orbital position of 49° EL has a semi-global coverage zone in the C-range and is intended for servicing customers in Europe, Asia and North Africa.

The Yamal-200 project is implemented Gazcom, a Gazprom’s subsidiary.

The launch of the Yamal-200 satellites enlarges the capacity of the Yamal telecommunication system by 7.6 times.

About a quarter of the Yamal-200 capacity will be used by Gazprom. The rest will be used by Russian public, departmental and commercial institutions and large foreign telecommunications companies.

The Yamal-200 satellites are an integral part of Russia’s Federal Space Program. At present, Russia’s share in the world’s satellite telecommunications business does not exceed 2%. The considerable increase in the satellite capacity is expected to allow Russia to enhance its standing on the global market.

The Yamal-200 project is financed by Gazprom (40%) and Gazprombank, Vneshtorgbank and the Italian Mediobank (60%).

The Yamal-200 satellites were constructed at and launched by the Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation, Khrunichev Centre and Lavochkin Science and Production Association.

Russia’s Federal Space Program envisages for the construction of another two Yamal-200 satellites, to be launched in 2005.

Reference

Open Joint Stock Company Gazcom was established in 1992. Its shareholders are Gazprom (80%), Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation (16%) and Gazprombank (4%).

Gazcom’s core activities: implementation of space projects, development of telecommunication networks, TV services, telecommunications.

Gazkom's telecommunications network is based on the Yamal satellite communication system developed by the same company. The first Yamal-100”satellite was launched in 1999. In the meantime, the system coveres the territory of Russia, CIS countries, and some East European and Asian countries. The launch of the Yamal-200 satellites drastically expands the coverage zone and information capacity of the Yamal network.

DIVISION OF RELATIONS WITH MASS MEDIA