Arianespace moves into Asia

PARIS (JP): Despite being a relatively new player, European Space Agency consortium Arianespace aims to take a more active role in the satellite technology business in Asia.

The consortium, chaired by Charles Bigot and with a staff of more than 300 highly skilled technicians plus 12,000 people working in Europe for the Arianespace program through the industrial shareholders' companies, plans to embark on a new and bold strategic plan for the region.

In order to tap the fast growing Asian market and meet consumers' demands, the consortium plans to open a new representative office in Singapore in the near future and increase its launching capability.

For over a decade, Arianespace has participated in building global telecommunications networks with its partners and customers, satellite manufacturers and operators. With them, Arianespace has been involved in the emergence of direct broadcast television and the development of meteorological services, earth observation and scientific missions.

The consortium for instance has launched 114 satellites and secured another 43 launch orders in the last 16 years.

In Asia, the consortium has launched Malaysia's Measat1 satellite, Thailand's Thaicom satellite, and an Indian satellite.

On May 15, Israeli's Amos satellite and Indonesia's Palapa C2 will fly in tandem on Ariane4 satellite launcher code named V 86.

Arianespace sales and marketing director for Asia Philippe Berterottiere said Arianespace has signed contracts to launch Malaysia's Measat2 satellite in October and Thailand's Thaicom3 in December of this year.

"We are determined to launch a satellite every three weeks," said Roger Solari, Arianespace's director of operations.

In spite of tough rivalry from major competitors, such as America's Atlas, Delta and Proton, Ukraine's Zenith3 and China's Long March as well as Japan's H-2, Arianespace is optimistic that it can win more contracts from satellite operators.

A reliable launching record, competitive price structures and the strategic location of its launching site near the equator in Kourou (a French territory in Latin America) which gives extra life duration of one year are among the advantages the consortium boasts of to win consumers.

To provide launch services that are adapted to ever changing needs in space transportation Arianespace has successively implemented satellite launchers Ariane 1, 2, and 3 and is currently operating Ariane4. Ariane4 can place payloads of up to 4.7 metric tons in geostationary transfer orbit.

Ariane5, the latest generation of Arianespace satellite launchers, will gradually replace Ariane4 and will carry payloads of up to 6.8 metric tons into geostationary transfer orbit and 20 metric tons into low earth orbit.

The development of Ariane5 has reached the final stages and is expected to begin operating at the end of this month.

"We are confident of our satellite reliability that is why we offer free launches for failed launchings," assured Solari, who is responsible for Ariane5 development.

The consortium believes that more Asian countries will launch their own satellites before the year 2000, either for strategic or commercial purposes.

"Singapore, for instance, has placed an order for a 36 power transponder satellite which will be launched in 1998," Berterottiere said. "Indonesia may also launch Palapa B and Garuda satellites."

Other Southeast Asian countries such as Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam, according to Berterottiere, will likely also enter an era of satellite telecommunications business in the not too distant future.

To meet market needs, Arianespace has established a worldwide presence: its head office in Europe is located at Evry near Paris, France; its North America subsidiary is Arianespace INC. in Washington D.C.; it has a Pacific Region representative office in Tokyo, Japan, and the Kourou Facilities in French Guiana.

Now three of the five Arianespace directors for sales and marketing are also in charge of Asia.

Berterottiere, as area sales and marketing director I, for example, is in charge of Indonesia, the Philippines, Central Europe, Taiwan and the Middle East while area sales and marketing director II is responsible for Thailand, Malaysia, India and Turkey. Area sales and marketing director III oversees Japan and South America, and area sales and marketing director IV is responsible for Western Europe. Another area sales and marketing director handles the United States.

The history of the European space consortium dates back to March 26, 1980, when Arianespace incorporated a French public company.

The shareholders' partners in Arianespace represent the scientific, technical, financial and political capabilities of 12 European countries comprising Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

Arianespace is responsible for the industrial production of Ariane launch vehicles, marketing and sales of launch services and launch operations.

Arianespace registered net sales of 4,613 million French francs in 1994 and a net profit of 140 million francs. Its expected net sales for 1995 is projected to reach 700 million French francs. (has)