Alcomsat-1

Alcomsat-1, a satellite to be launched in 2014, dedicated to space communications to provide among other broadcast services , internet, telephony, and VSAT.

Inaugurating on February 23, 2012, the Centre for Spatial Development of the Algerian Space Agency (ASAL), President Abdelaziz Bouteflika strongly affirmed the importance of achieving and launching before 2014, the telecommunications satellite Alcomsat-1, to ensure the independence of Algeria in this area. The Centre Spatial Development, whose construction started in 2008, is built on an area of more than four hectares at a cost of 5.5 billion dinars ($ 76 million).

Development Center Satellite (CDS), a project that fits within the national space program 2020. Belonging to the National Space Agency (ASAL), the CDS aims to design and develop with specialists and engineers Algerian spatial tools in favor of economic, social and cultural development. During the ceremony, President Bouteflika focused on the need to develop and launch by 2014 the telecommunication satellite "Alcomsat 1" to ensure national autonomy in this area. Launched in 2008, the center had a building for the integration of satellite cleanroom and another reserved for test environment, allowing for integration and testing of satellites weighing up to 1,000 kg.

According to the Minister of Post and Information Technology on 11 June 2014, Ms. Zohra Derdouri, the telecommunications satellite into operation Alcomsat 1 was scheduled before the end of 2015. Featuring industry developments in the work of the Global WSIS Forum 10 in Geneva, the Minister of CIWP emphasized the enormous efforts made by Algeria to develop new satellite telecommunications infrastructure.

Alcomsat 1 is a tool that will especially provide data transmission services, multimedia, distance learning, telemedicine and videoconferencing, she said. Ms. Derdouri also made implementation of state of the "national strategy for high and very high speed in Algeria." As such, no less than 78,000 km of optical fibers have been made to date in the country, she said, ensuring the continuing of this ambitious program. The first head of ICT in Algeria highlights also the big operation technological Cyberif opening up on the bus management in cyberspace moving from village to village, to introduce ICT isolated populations. This ongoing process will, in 2015, extended to all rural areas of the country, she promised.

Alcomsat-1 was sent to the scheduled orbit from China's Xichang Satellite Launch Center on Dec. 11, 2017. Afterwards, both sides conducted satellite on-orbit testing and completed an on-orbit review.

China said 02 April 2018 that it expects to boost its cooperation with Algeria in the field of aerospace technology. Yang Baohua, deputy general manager of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, said that China expects substantive cooperation in other follow-up projects in the field. Yang and other representatives from China took part on 01 April 2018 in an on-orbit delivery ceremony for Algeria's first communication satellite, Alcomsat-1, with the Algerian Space Agency.

This project is an important manifestation of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Algeria, Yang said, adding that it created a good precedent for increased cooperation between the two sides in the aerospace field. He said the successful delivery of the satellite is the result of a four-year hard work by scientists and researchers of scientific institutions from both countries.

With a designed life of 15 years, Alcomsat-1 will be used by Algeria for broadcast and television, emergency communication, distance education, e-governance, enterprise communication, broadband access and satellite-based navigation.