[Satellite TODAY 02-27-13] Turkmenistan has scheduled the launch of its first national satellite for late 2014. Thales Alenia Space will design and build the satellite, as well as provide assistance in satellite management and train specialitsts to operate the satellite.

   Turkmenistan currently services the Yamal Russian satellite, owned by JSC Gazprom Space Systems, which provides digital national TV broadcasting and many Russian TV channels in Turkmenistan.

   The country is expected to use the new Turkmen communication satellite for international backbone TV broadcasts, and integrated information exchange, including distance education, telemedicine, radio telephone, telegraph and other types of communication between ground stations, placed at a distance of up to 10,000-15,000 kilometers from each other.