Argentine government-owned telecommunications company incorporated in 2006
Empresa Argentina de Soluciones Satelitales Sociedad Anónima AR-SAT, usually known simply as ARSAT, is an Argentine government-owned telecommunications company incorporated in 2006 as a Sociedad Anónima through the federal law 26.092.[3] At the time of incorporation, its ownership was shared by the Ministry of Federal Planning, Public Investment and Services (98%) and the Ministry of Economy and Public Finances (2%).[1][2]
Business lines
Current business products
As of 2014[update], ARSAT had four business lines:[2]
- TDA (Spanish: Televisión Digital Abierta): A country wide digital terrestrial television SATVD-T broadcasting network.[4] The Argentine government ordered a national terrestrial network, where all licensed broadcasting stations can get their programs transmitted through the common system.[5][6] ARSAT is in charge of developing and installing the initial 90 broadcasting stations.
- Argentine Geostationary Communication Satellite System (SSGAT for Spanish: Sistema Satelital Geoestacionario Argentino de Telecomunicaciones): The Argentine government has decided to fund a national satellite system where all ITU assigned geostationary orbital slots are filled with satellites designed and manufactured locally. It currently includes the ARSAT-1, ARSAT-2 and ARSAT-3.
- Conectar Igualdad (Spanish for Connecting Equality): It's the national program for reducing the digital divide. ARSAT is in charge of the satellite segment of the program through the SSGAT.
- TDA: ARSAT is also in charge of the satellite broadcasting segment of the national digital television broadcasting network.
- Federal Fiber Optics Network (RFFO for Spanish: Red Federal de Fibra Óptica): The Argentine government has funded a 52,000 km (32,000 mi) fiber optic network to transport Internet, Digital Television, Telephony and private data. ARSAT is in charge of its construction and operation.
- Conectar Igualdad: ARSAT is also in charge of leveraging the RFFO for this digital divide program.
- TDA: ARSAT is also in charge of connecting the TDA terrestrial network through the RFFO.
- Data Center: In its ground station in Benavídez, Tigre Partido, Buenos Aires, ARSAT has built and operates a 4,200 m2 (45,000 sq ft) TIER III certified data center.
- CEATSA: An environmental testing laboratory. While it is physically connected to INVAP's satellite manufacturing facility, ARSAT holds a majority ownership (80% as of 2015).[7]
Former business products
- Libre.ar (cancelled): In December 2012, gave ARSAT a mandate to set up a cellular network that would be open to small operators.[8] This was possible because the Government had kept a set of frequency bands for a national network operator.[9] The program never materialized and just 18 months later the frequencies were put up for auction.[10][11]
