Azercosmos, the space agency under the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport, has recently entered into another business contract, this time with the Chinese company Emposat, which specializes in space infrastructure and ground-based satellite services. As per the agreement, Azercosmos has installed Emposat's 7.3-meter antenna system at the Baku Teleport, located in the Main Ground Center of Satellite Control. This marks the second successful collaboration between Azercosmos and Emposat in Azerbaijan, as the Chinese company had previously set up its 4.2-meter antenna system at the Baku teleport two years ago. With the infrastructure in place, Emposat is able to provide its clients with monitoring services between satellites and satellite networks, ensuring proper satellite management and checking satellite operability. The company, established in late 2016 by former CASC employees, mainly offers TT and C (Telemetry, Tracking, and Command) services to commercial satellite operators. According to SpaceRef, Emposat's business model typically operates on a "cost per pass" basis, where satellite operators pay for each time their satellite passes through the Emposat gateway to send or receive data. This can amount to several tens to several hundred US dollars per pass, considering that each satellite can have multiple passes per day. As of June 2023, Emposat serves 266 satellites. Over its seven years of existence, Emposat has recognized the significance of foreign ground stations for its business operations. In April 2020, the company established a French subsidiary named SatHD Europe, which manages most of Emposat's international endeavors, including the construction of several gateways outside of China. Emposat claims to have ground stations in various countries, including Kenya, South Africa, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand, although the projects in Argentina and Azerbaijan have garnered more attention

Source: Turan News Agency