29-08-2008 - First Argentine Telecommunications Satellite to be built by INVAP : In a ceremony headed by the President of Argentina, Ms Dr. Cristina Fernández, on August 28, 2008 the contract covering phases II to IV of the design and construction of the first Argentine Geostationary Communications Satellite - called ARSAT-1 - was signed between INVAP and AR-SAT (Empresa Argentina de Soluciones Satelitales, SA).
In a ceremony headed by the President of Argentina, Ms Dr. Cristina Fernández, on August 28, 2008 the contract covering phases II to IV of the design and construction of the first Argentine Geostationary Communications Satellite - called ARSAT-1 - was signed between INVAP and AR-SAT (Empresa Argentina de Soluciones Satelitales, SA). ARSAT-1 will be the first Argentine geostationary communications satellite, and will be placed in one of the orbital positions assigned to the country by the International Telecommunications Union. The contract covers the detailed engineering and the construction of the satellite, as well as all actions to be taken to ensure the launching of ARSAT-1 by the end of 2011. ARSAT-1 will cover telephone and data transmission, internet and TV transmission services to Argentina and the whole Southern cone of America.
The ceremony took place in the "Pink House" - the site of the Argentine Executive. Also present were the Governor of the Province of Río Negro, Dr. Miguel Saiz, the Federal Minister for Planning, Public Investment and Services, Arch. Julio De Vido and the Chairman of the Board of INVAP, Dr. Carlos Fernández. The CEOs of both companies, Dr. Néstor P. Tognetti and Lic. Héctor E. Otheguy were the signataries of the document.