China to Launch CongoSat-01 Satellite for DR Congo
By Rebecca Lincks | November 20, 2012
[Satellite TODAY 11-20-12] Within the next three years, China will launch a communications satellite for the Democratic Republic of Congo, Chinese media officials announced Nov. 19.
According to Xinhua news agency, the CongoSat-01 satellite will be launched from the Chinese province Sichuan and aims to cover southern and central Africa. After Nigeria, the DR Congo will be the second African country to possess this satellite technology.
"China has abundant experience in satellites and telecommunication. We came here because China can help us develop a satellite and telecommunication, and we never contacted anyone else for this project," DR Congo’s National Network of Satellite Telecommunications (Renatelsat) Head Richard Achinda Wahilungula said in a statement.
Rentelsat signed the deal with China’s Great Wall Industry Corporation on Saturday, Nov. 17.