The Algerian Space Agency (ASAL) celebrates the fourth year anniversary of the first Algerian telecommunications satellite launch, “Alcomsat-1”. The Alcomsat-1 satellite is a telecommunications satellite launched on December 11, 2017, at 00:41 AM (local time) by Long March 3B (LM-3B) launch vehicle from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in China. In addition, the satellite was placed in geostationary orbit on December 18, 2017, at 36,000 km altitude, at the orbital position of 24.8 West. It is characterised by a total weight of 5225 Kg (launch weight) and an estimated lifespan of 15 years. It provides broadcasting services for TV and Radio programs, internet and VSAT services in Ku and Ka frequency band, and increases the accuracy of the Global Positioning System (GPS) and SBAS signal.

Control and operation centres

The Alcomsat-1 satellite system is managed by two control and operation centres: the Space Telecommunications Systems Exploitation Center (CESTS) in Bouchaoui, Algiers, and the Space Telecommunications Operations Center (COTS) in Boughezoul, Médéa. In addition, the ground operation centres are responsible for monitoring, in continuous mode, the state of the Alcomsat-1 and for managing multimedia applications.

Also, the ground monitoring and control stations are responsible for:

• Controlling the Alcomsat-1 satellite in orbit;
• Controlling the access of the payload of the satellite;
• Operating television and radio broadcasting services;
• Operating the VSAT services in the Ku and Ka frequency band;
• Maintaining ground control and operating stations of the Alcomsat-1 satellite.

Furthermore, engineers from the two stations (Bouchaoui – Algiers and Boughezoul – Médéa) permanently ensure the stability and maintenance of the operational conditions of the Alcomsat-1 satellite system 24 hours a day, seven days a week while ensuring the proper functioning of the various services.

Applications and operations of Alcomsat-1 satellite services

CESTS and COTS are equipped with application centres to ensure the optimal use of the Alcomsat-1 satellite services and to provide the audio, video and internet transmission services in Ku and Ka frequency bands. Other applications of the Alcomsat-1 satellite include:

• A centre for the operation of television and radio broadcasting services operating in Ku band;
• A centre for the operation of VSAT services operating in Ku band, located at the Bouchaoui station, Wilaya of Algiers;
• A VSAT service operations centre operating in Ka band, located at the Boughezoul station, Wilaya de Médéa.

Broadcasting and radio broadcasting

The engineers handling the TV and radio broadcasting services operations centre are also responsible for supervising, controlling and ensuring, the broadcasting [on the Alcomsat-1 satellite] of national public and private TV packages in Standard Definition (HD) and High Definition (HD) quality, as well as radio programs. In addition, various platforms and solutions were created, developed and added as part of the launch of additional TV channels in SD and HD quality (e.g. TV6 Généraliste, TV7 EL Maarifa, TV8 EDHAKIRA).

Ku and Ka frequency band VSAT applications

The role of the engineers of the VSAT services operating centres in the Ku and Ka frequency band is to ensure the deployment of fixed and mobile VSAT stations for data transmission, VoIP and video-conferencing, via the Alcomsat-1.

Also, communications interconnection networks have been created for the benefit of various national organisations and structures, including:

• Deployment of a helicopter-borne interconnection and flow transfer network to the services of the Algerian Directorate General of Civil Protection (DGPC);
• ORSEC simulation of an earthquake in the Wilaya of Boumerdes with the DGPC and the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications;
• VoIP data transmission, Visio-Conference and helicopter-borne flow transfer to the Directorate General of National Security (DGSN) centres.