Israel's AMOS-17 in Orbit
Spacecom Satellite Providing Vital Communications Services to Africa
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AMOS-17
Israel’s AMOS-17 satellite, manufactured by Boeing, blasted into space
aboard a SpaceX rocket in late October 2019.
The communications satellite is now successfully deployed and fully
operational, providing advanced communications services to Africa. AMOS-17 has provided Israel and satellite
designer and operator Spacecom a triumphant return to Space, three years after
a launchpad explosion destroyed another one of its satellites AMOS-6.
Communications Services
for Africa
The demand for the communications services AMOS-17
is providing to Africa is huge. The
continent suffers from a lack of internet access infrastructure with some parts
of Africa underserved or completely unconnected to any communications
infrastructure. Meanwhile demand for
access is growing. More than half of the
African population is under 18 years old.
And the number of households using digital television is growing 20%
every year.
Connectivity
For Spacecom, the
opportunity to provide connectivity to Africa is a big one. And, according to the company, to get
connectivity via the AMOS-17 satellite, the locals can set-up a simple solar
powered terminal.
Solar Panel Wings
AMOS-17 is orbiting the
Earth at an altitude of 22,360 miles and a speed of 11,000 kph. It will be operational for twenty years. The $250 million satellite weighs 6.5 tons,
is 115 feet long and has wing like solar panels to generate green energy. It joins three other Spacecom satellites now
in orbit. The satellites provide services to satellite television operators,
internet and telephone providers, government and data providers.
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