Globalstar said it started service in Central Asia, including Afghanistan, through Russian service provider GlobalTel. Company said voice and data service was being used to support medical and humanitarian programs in Afghanistan. Media organizations also are using satellite phones. Service was made possible in region by extending coverage from western and central Russia.
Russia export controls and sanctions
The use of export controls and sanctions on Russia has surged since the country's invasion of Crimea in 2014, and especially its invasion of Ukraine in in February 2022. Similar export controls and sanctions have been imposed by U.S. allies, including the EU, U.K. and Japan. The following is a listing of recent articles in Export Compliance Daily on export controls and sanctions imposed on Russia:
FCC Deputy Gen. Counsel John Rogovin told Practising Law Institute conference in Washington that agency was “seriously hopeful” that Congress would pass legislation implementing NextWave agreement by year-end. But in response to question by panel moderator Richard Wiley, he declined to place odds on Congress’s acting in time to meet condition of settlement agreement that legislation be approved by Dec. 31. He said that beyond that date, “there can be no guarantee we will hold that coalition together. It was pretty fragile.” Under scenario in which request for certiorari before U.S. Supreme Court would move forward next year, even with ultimate ruling favorable to FCC, certainty on disposition of licenses still might not be assured until 2004, he said, citing court scheduling issues.
Russian govt. agreed last month to establish interdepartmental working group to examine specific set of improved regulatory approaches for VSAT-based communications in Russian Federation, said David Hartshorn, secy. gen., Global VSAT Forum (GVF) in London.
Moscow Independent Bcstg. Corp. signed contract with Intersputnik for lease of satellite capacity on LMI-1 satellite to broadcast Russia TV-6 information and entertainment channel.
Corning said it would buy minority stake in Transvok, manufacturer of fiber cabling in Russia. With stake of slightly more than 25%, Corning will supply fiber for Transvok and assist Moscow-based company in pursuing new markets there. Transvok was formed in 1996 by Russian Ministry of Railroads to support regional information networks. Major customer is Russian telecom TransTeleCom, which since 1997 has deployed 45,412 km fiber network to be operational by year end. Corning also is equity owner in Samara Optical Cable in Samara, Russia.
Finland’s Sonera, Sweden’s Telia and several Russian telecom groups created first national wireless operator in Russia. Companies said new entity, which would have 400,000 subscribers, was merger of Telia’s associated North-West GSM, which operates in St. Petersburg, and Sonic Duo, in Moscow. Venture also includes 5 regional GSM 900- and 1800-MHz operators that are part of holding company Telekominvest, in which Telia has stake. Those regional companies are active in northern Caucasus, Volga region, Ural mountains and eastern parts of Russia. North-West GSM had been 3rd largest wireless carrier in Russia and Sonic Duo was 3rd GSM operator in Moscow. Telekominvest, which holds stakes in many Russian telcos, owns 31% of new operator, followed by Sonera and Central Telegraph Mobile, 26% each, and Telia Group, 8%. Telia also holds 30% of First National Holding and 85% of Telekominvest. Other investors include IPO Growth Fund, 6%; ZAO WestLink, 1.5%; ZAO Kontakt, 1.5%. As part of transaction, Telia and Sonera bought Telenor’s stake in Russian wireless operator North-West GSM. Telenor said it would gain $40 million from sale of its 12.74% investment in that venture. New Pan-Russian operator plans to unveil single brand later this year, companies said. Sonera said wireless penetration in Russia was 3% and new company hoped to have 1/3 of mobile market by 2009. Among regional operators that comprise new company, North-West GSM began operating in 1994 and MCC Polvolzhje now provides service in Volga region. Other 5 operators that are part of venture will begin service this year and next, Sonera said. Companies expect legal confirmation of merger by end of March. Sonera said new operator planned to offer 3rd generation wireless services and was considering public listing. Licenses held by new operator will cover 122 million people. Sonera said its participation in merger didn’t increase its total investment in Russia.
Soyuz launch vehicle successfully took flight Fri. on schedule from Plesetsk Cosmodrome in Russia, company said. Governmental spacecraft, placed on target orbit, represented Soyuz’s 1,660th successful flight.
Problems that led to imposing strict export controls on satellites were “exaggerated, off target, political, a disaster for the industry and a disaster for national security,” said William Reinsch, pres., National Foreign Trade Council, and ex- Commerce Dept. (DoC) undersecy. for export administration under President Clinton. At Stimson Center conference on U.S. export controls on space-related technologies in Washington Tues., he said Hughes-Loral flap in 1998 that led to transfer of satellite export controls to State Dept. (DoS) from Commerce didn’t help China as much as opponents argued: “China received the most help from Russia.” Reinsch said actual drop in U.S. market share may vary according to estimates, “but nobody says it hasn’t dropped significantly.”
Intersputnik will launch new Express-A-1R series satellite next March as result of failure of Express-2 June 11. Under agreement with RSCC, owner of satellite, Intersputnik will be allocated 9 C-band transponders with zone-beam coverage to provide for transatlantic traffic in Intersputnik system. Company said failure reportedly was result of technical problems with Earth- orientation system. Intersputnik’s customers operating via Express-2 were promptly given opportunity to transfer their communication channels to new-generation Express-3A satellite. Principal customers using Intersputnik’s Express-2 satellite include state-run and private communication operators in Cuba, Kuwait, Poland, Russia, Syria, U.S. and several African countries.
Warnings from No. 2 man at U.S. Space Command (USSC) on ability to deal with space-borne threats to military and commercial satellites, including communications satellites, led to sharp criticism from Rep. Abercrombie (D-Hawaii) at joint hearing of House Armed Services subcommittees Wed. Abercrombie told Lt. Gen. Edward Anderson, deputy commander in chief and chief of staff of USSC: “We are very, very concerned about whether or not our military capabilities are being compromised because of commercial greed.”