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From
the very outset we have achieved major objectives:
the first intercontinental links, the first
receptions from the Telstar satellite, the
first television broadcasts from Fucino.
The granting of an exclusive concession
rights for the provision of telecommunications
services, via “artificial satellite”,
by the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications
in 1965, enabled us to join Intelsat, the
newly-established 12-country international
organization that provided telephone, telegraph
and television circuits to North America
and Europe.
That was the year during which that the first commercial telecommunications
satellite was launched (“Early Bird”, later
rebaptized Intelsat I). |
Two years later, we also began operations in the Atlantic
area with the first large 30-meter diameter antenna located at the Fucino station. The small
antenna used in the experimental phase, with an enlarged dish
and completely renewed tracking systems, was offered to Intelsat
for the first telemetry services and remote-control of satellites
under a contract signed in 1968. This allowed us to position
ourselves as a key contractor for orbit control services for
all the main international organizations (Intelsat, Eutelsat,
Inmarsat, etc.). Today we control 34 satellites with 13 operational
antennas. In the 1970s, we also undertook a major effort in
systems engineering, reaching agreements with the Italian
National Research Council for the management of the SIRIO
Italian satellite program, followed in 1980 by an agreement to perform
preliminary studies for the ITALSAT satellite, that was to
be integrated into the national telephone network.
In order to diversify our sites and improve
geographical distribution, we established
two new facilities at Gera Lario
(Como) in 1977 and at Scanzano
(Palermo) in 1987. In 1975, with the signing
of a memorandum of understanding with NASA
for data reception from the LANDSAT
satellites and with the entry into service
of a dedicated A installation at Fucino,
we became fully operational as a supplier
of the most advanced Earth observation services.
1991 saw
the introduction of the first closed
network (VSat) with small antennas for a single major user:
Argo, a project for emergency communications with fixed
and mobile antennas for the Department of Civil Defense,
entirely conceived and designed by us.
Argo was
followed by many other projects for public and private customers,
all run from a remote control center at the Fucino facility.
Many other
engineering projects were designed and developed for various national
and international organizations, such as the Italian Space
Agency (ASI) and the European Space Agency. As part of a
1996 ESA/ESTEC contract, we are leading a team of five European
firms in a system definition and feasibility study for the European GNSS2.
In 2000, we established E-Geos, a joint-venture with the Italian Space Agency that established the first national center for Earth observation.
The following
year, we successfully managed the LEOP phase (launch and
early orbit phase) of the SICRAL military telecommunications
satellite. We also introduced a new American digital platform,
allowing domestic and international broadcasters to transmit radio,
television, and multimedia services across the entire American continent.
The recovery
of the Artemis satellite, released in the launch phase into
a lower than intended orbit began in 2001. The operation
continued for 18 months, with Artemis successfully reaching
geostationary orbit in January 2003.
In 2003, we acquired the German firm, GAF,
completing our range of services for the
Earth observation market. In addition, through
a GAF affiliate we can now receive and process
data from Indian satellites, therefore guaranteeing
global coverage.
Today, our
teleport system is fully developed and unique infrastructure
at the European level and quite possibly worldwide. The
final challenge is to achieve complete network integration
with other telecommunications technologies (optic fiber,
wireless, wi-fi, etc.) creating a maxi teleport available to customers
throughout Europe.
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Telespazio
S.p.A. Partita IVA 04812701003 |
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