Turkey to launch domestic communications satellite Türksat 6A

Turkey will launch its domestically produced communications satellite Türksat 6A on Sunday, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is expected to attend the inauguration ceremony.

The launch will expand the global reach of Turkey's satellite coverage from 3.5 billion to 5 billion people, Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu said, according to RIA Novosti.

Türksat 6A has a projected service life of at least 15 years and includes 84 domestically produced components out of 100, placing Turkey among 11 countries capable of building their own communications satellites.

The ceremony will be held at the Türksat Gölbaşı facility in Ankara. The new satellite will enable Turkey to extend its communications services to India, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia.

N.Tebrizli