FINAL REPORT: DEFINITIONAL MISSION TO AZERBAIJAN:
AZERCOSMOS – AZERSPACE-2 FEASIBILITY STUDY
August 07, 2013
Space Partnership International
41
potential risk, since Ka-Band is more sensitive to rain fade than the equivalent C-band
and Ku-band
frequencies. Azercosmos’ CTO understands that design measures will be required to mitigate this
potential problem. Rain fade may in certain markets have a significant impact on customer’s
quality of service and the ultimate choice of frequencies for the satellite design. Despite many of
the claims by satellite and ground segment electronic manufacturers that the latest deductive coding
and modulation “solve the problem,” rain attenuation affects Ka-band more so than Ku- and C-
band (which is typically not impacted by rain fade) in heavy rain areas. Underpowered Ka- or Ku-
band solutions can result in either lower availability and/or lower throughput unless the satellite has
sufficient power and/or antenna size to compensate for this loss as well as bigger receiving
antennas.
Before the launch of Azerspace-1, all satellite capacity and services were purchased from foreign
satellite operators. Services are re-sold by any of the three licensed operators. During our
interviews with Azercosmos, the company management discussed their plan to migrate satellite
users in Azerbaijan over to Azercosmos 1 and 2 once they are available for service.
Benefits resulting from the feasibility study
Human Capacity & Skills
In addition to building networking opportunities with U.S. companies and developing a
comprehensive business plan for the funding of the Azerspace-2 program, Azercosmos
stakeholders will benefit from the potential knowledge transfer between consultants performing the
Feasibility Study and the employees tasked to work with them. The areas of focus are discussed
later in the Terms of Reference.
FINAL REPORT: DEFINITIONAL MISSION TO AZERBAIJAN:
AZERCOSMOS – AZERSPACE-2 FEASIBILITY STUDY
August 07, 2013
Space Partnership International
42
3.10 IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT
The Contractor shall submit a statement regarding the likely consequences that the proposed
project(s) may have on the environment and ensure that the terms of reference for the activity
include, at a minimum, a preliminary review of the project's impact on the environment, with
reference to local environmental requirements and those of potential lending agencies. The activity
should identify potential negative impacts and discuss the extent to which they can be minimized.
Impact on the environment with space related activities could be serious in the case of a
catastrophic launch failure. While this
poses a risk, launch campaigns are well-monitored by the
launch pad safety officer, who has the sole ability to destroy a launch
vehicle if it is deemed
anomalous. Launches take place from secure facilities following approved trajectories over safe
areas. In the case of a U.S. launch, the Federal Aviation Administration Office of Commercial
Space Transportation’s mission is to protect U.S. personnel and property and determine the
economic and environmental impact of a launch failure for any given launch vehicle. A specific
Environmental Impact Statement looks at direct and indirect impacts (constructions and operations,
trans-boundary impacts, thresholds, etc.) and is imposed on the launch vehicle providers.
Environmental effects include:
Compatible Land Use (Including Farmlands and Coastal Resources)
Section 4(f)
Properties
Noise
Visual Resources and Light Emissions
Historical, Architectural, Archeological, and Cultural Resources
Air Quality
Water Resources (including Surface Waters, Groundwater, Wetlands, Floodplains, and Wild and
Scenic Rivers)
Biological Resources (Fish, Wildlife, Plants)
Hazardous Materials, Pollution Prevention, and Solid Waste
Socioeconomics
Environmental Justice
Children’s Environmental Health Risks
and Safety Risks
Natural Resources and Energy Supply
Secondary (Induced) Impacts
Cumulative Impacts
Impact from Infrastructure
The launch of the second telecommunications satellite, Azerspace-2, will bring new satellite
capacity and services to the country, and will extend the capabilities of Azerspace-1 and the
country’s existing network infrastructure. Based on preliminary data collected
during the interviews
with Azercosmos, we expect Azerspace-2 to impact the national infrastructure in the following
ways.
Last-mile connectivity, including cellular trunking and backhaul for the country’s cellular operators
Lower-cost Ka-band solutions that will significantly extend the reach of national e-government and
related public services to critical last-mile users
Backup for terrestrial fiber that will provide needed redundancy for existing and planned cable
Backhaul for wireless services
FINAL REPORT: DEFINITIONAL MISSION TO AZERBAIJAN:
AZERCOSMOS – AZERSPACE-2 FEASIBILITY STUDY
August 07, 2013
Space Partnership International
43
Land disturbance that may occur during construction of ground-based equipment is offset by the
benefits listed above, as well as other positive effects resulting from the additional capacity offered
by satellite service offerings. Moreover, these benefits are highly compatible with current
Azerbaijan ICT strategy and programs.
Azerspace as an enabler of ICT Growth
Azerbaijan has been one of the top 10 dynamic environments for ICT development over the last 5-7
years, with average annual growth in the ICT sector between 2004 and 2010 roughly 2.5 to 3 times
higher than the global average. Based on data from the State Statistical Committee and according to
many experts, revenue from the Azerbaijan ICT sector in 2020-2025 will be able to catch up with
the country’s oil sector revenues.
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The Government of Azerbaijan clearly understands how the
Azerspace-1 and -2 missions are required to meet these financial objectives. Not only will the
second geostationary satellite enable a more rapid diversification of the economy to reduce the
reliance on oil; the Government fully understands that the Azerspace-2 program will be a major
contributor to growth, competitiveness, and risk reduction for most of the country’s public-sector
activities.
Last-mile Internet and Voice
At present, internet and broadband services are expanding rapidly throughout Azerbaijan. Many
settlements in Azerbaijan have access to high speed broadband access. However, Contractor was
not able to substantiate published claims that high-speed broadband access is available throughout
the entire country.
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23
Source: 2010 Study By Regional Innovative Technologies Academy (R.I.T.A.); http://www.eeca-
ict.eu/uploads/new_documents/The_National_ICTSector_inAzerbaijan_march2012_v2.pdf
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http://www.eeca-
ict.eu/uploads/new_documents/The_National_ICTSector_inAzerbaijan_march2012_v2.pdf