Belarus intends to integrate into the global information space by developing its National Satellite Communication and Broadcasting System. These tasks were set by the President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, on April 12, during his visit to the space communications centre in the village of Stankovo, Dzerzhinsk district, as reported to BELTA by the press service of the Head of State.
Belarus intends to integrate into the global information space by developing its National Satellite Communication and Broadcasting System. These tasks were set by the President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, on April 12, during his visit to the space communications centre in the village of Stankovo, Dzerzhinsk district, as reported to BELTA by the press service of the Head of State.
"At one time, we started by providing services for the creation of satellites for other countries. Now, through cooperation, we can create this technology ourselves and launch it into space with someone's help (we don't need cosmodromes). We control the satellite, receive products from it, and sell them. Everything is in our hands," the President said.
The Head of State was briefed on the project to create the National Satellite Communication and Broadcasting System, which is being implemented under a contract between the Chinese industrial corporation "Great Wall" and the Belarusian plant of precision electromechanics. In January of this year, the Belarusian telecommunications satellite "Belintersat-1" was launched from the Chinese cosmodrome.
Currently, noted Sergey Gurulev, Chairman of the State Military Industrial Committee, the task is to commercialise the satellite to generate future profits. Moreover, this promising project is aimed not only at providing communication services to foreign partners but also at the domestic market, including for the needs of the army and other security agencies. In fact, this marks a qualitatively new stage in the development of communications in Belarus. With the launch of "Belintersat-1," Belarus has joined the prestigious list of just over three dozen countries that have a satellite in their own communication system.
According to Sergey Gurulev, the most optimal solution is to have three satellites that, being in geostationary orbit, would cover almost the entire territory of the Earth. "If we need this today and it is profitable, then it is a state matter. We created this project so that it would pay for itself," the Belarusian leader noted.
Alexander Lukashenko emphasized in this regard that, as in other sectors, the most important thing is to sell the final product and identify markets for providing relevant services. "If we have such developments, we will launch a second satellite. Apparently, it is needed for more reliable communication," the President said. "This complex is multifunctional and very necessary for our country. We will develop it. I am very glad that there are such jobs for our youth. We will give this top priority."
During his conversation with the staff of the Ground Control Complex of the National Satellite Communication and Broadcasting System, the head of state recalled that at one time the task was set to develop the space industry in Belarus. At that time, there were quite a few skeptics who believed it was unnecessary. But time has put everything in its place, confirming the correctness of the decision made. "We entered this field so that the nation would develop. We have learned to plow the land, sow, and harvest. We have also learned to produce complex products in industry. But this is not space, it is not a nuclear power plant, it is not the High-Tech Park – these are the directions oriented towards the future," Alexander Lukashenko stressed.
The President noted that many other sectors have also embarked on the path of developing advanced areas. Among them is medicine, where new high-tech types of operations are being mastered. The field of education is also being adapted to modern requirements. "This decision was made so that the nation would live and, by developing, be the most advanced," the head of state stated.
Returning to the topic of the space industry, Alexander Lukashenko noted that this direction, in essence, stimulates the development of a whole range of enterprises: "Launching a satellite, building a flight control center – this is work for many enterprises and thousands of people. This was the main thing for me, that we would develop related industries."
During his interaction with the work collective, the President assured that the state will continue to pay the utmost attention to social issues, including youth employment, and will ensure the provision of first jobs for university graduates. "When increasing the retirement age, we were fully aware that this would require additional jobs. Therefore, this year we made the decision to create more than 50,000 jobs," the President said. "We will, regardless of any market principles, demand from managers and create conditions for businesses to create jobs."
Special attention in Belarus is also paid to the issue of ensuring security. "The main thing for me is the safety of our citizens, our society, and the country's defence capability," the Belarusian leader emphasized.
Domestic defence industry enterprises are actively working in this direction, creating weapon systems, including missile systems, that are necessary for Belarus and in demand on the market. "Therefore, do not worry about the future, the security, the defence capability of our country. We have enough specialists who can create systems capable of countering any adversary. We will always protect our piece of land. We will not give up anything of ours, but we do not need anything that belongs to others either," the President summarized.
In Stan'kovo, Alexander Lukashenko also familiarized himself with the organization of living and domestic conditions for the facility's employees, visiting a multi-apartment building located near the centre, where all conditions for comfortable living have been created.