New Turksats in orbit in a year

Turkey reaches the final phase in a joint project with Japanese engineers to orbit two new satellites after launching the 80 percent homemade high resolution earth observation satellite Gokturk-2 in recent months. Speaking to the Star daily on the issue, Transportation, Maritime and Communication Minister Binali Yildirim said Turkey has entered a new era. "We have completed 74 percent of Turksat 4A and 63.2 percent of Turksat 4B. We will triple our satellite capacity by orbiting 4A at the end of this year and 4B at the beginning of 2014." Yildirim added. Turkish TV channels will be accessible around the world with Turksat 4A and 4B will provide cheaper and faster internet connection. Besides, Turkey will launch 5A, a 100 percent homemade satellite, employing the profits earned via those satellites. Underlining that 4A will cover North Africa, Europe, the Middle East and Asia, Transport Minister Yildirim said, "Turkish channels will be accessible throughout Africa. We have already finished the design of the equipments to be used in Turksat 4A and mostly completed the equipment production. We are planning to orbit it at the end of this year."