More than 3 billion people do not have access to satellite system: Turkish official

By Hulya Omur Uylas

There are more than 3 billion people, mostly in China, India, Russia and Africa, who do not have access to a satellite system, Selman Demirel, deputy director of Turkish satellite authority Turksat, said Thursday.

Demirel spoke at the International Low Earth Orbit Cube and Small Satellite Conference and Seminar that was organized by the Telecommunication Satellite and Electronic Industrialists Business People Association (TUYAD).

He said Türkiye will play a leading role in the integration of that demographic.

The satellite production infrastructure should be diversified to mass-produce large high-capacity satellites and small low-cost satellites to establish more comprehensive and high-performance communication networks, he added.

Omer Abdullah Karagozoglu, chairman of the Information and Communication Technologies Authority, said internet connection is needed in sectors such as manufacturing, health, oil, gas and electricity production in rural areas.

He also said his agency is in discussion with Turkish and foreign companies to develop new satellite systems.

"Satellite technologies not only provide countries with significant advantages in political, strategic, military, technological and economic fields worldwide but also make significant contributions in the fields of communication, navigation and monitoring of the world,” said Karagozoglu.

"For this reason, our country continues its projects to increase its capacity and competitiveness in the satellite sector in order to benefit from these contributions," he said.

*Writing by Emir Yildirim