This article was in THE WEST AUSTRALIAN11 / 08 /2009Local...

This article was in THE WEST AUSTRALIAN
11 / 08 /2009


Local satellite launch getting closer: NewSat
VIVIENNE RYAN

Perth company NewSat insists it is getting closer to realising its ambition to launch Australia's first non-government;, locally owned satellite.
It says private investors have provided commitments for half of the $500 million project and the French Government has indicated it could pump in $250 million if the company hooked up with a French company for the launch. NewSat believes the Ka band, geostationary satellite could generate revenues of up to $2.5 billion over its 15-year life.
"Everyone would be sceptical that a small company would have the 'oomph' to launch its own satellite," chief executive Adrian Ballintine said. "It is a big task. (But) we are very close on the road." NewSat operates communication services for the Government and private resource projects in Australia, Asia, the Middle East and Africa.