ARSAT

Empresa Argentina de Soluciones Satelitales Sociedad Anónima AR-SAT, usually known simply as ARSAT, is an Argentine government-owned telecommunications company incorporated in 2006 as a Sociedad Anónima through the federal law 26.092. At the time of incorporation, its ownership was shared by the Ministry of Federal Planning, Public Investment and Services (98%) and the Ministry of Economy and Public Finances (2%).

As of 2014, ARSAT had four business lines:

• TDA (Spanish: Televisión Digital Abierta): A country wide digital terrestrial television SATVD-T broadcasting network. The Argentine government ordered a national terrestrial network, where all licensed broadcasting stations can get their programs transmitted through the common system. ARSAT is in charge of developing and installing the initial 90 broadcasting stations.

• Argentine Geostationary Communication Satellite System (SSGAT for Spanish: Sistema Satelital Geoestacionario Argentino de Telecomunicaciones): The Argentine government has decided to fund a national satellite system where all ITU assigned geostationary orbital slots are filled with satellites designed and manufactured locally. It currently includes the ARSAT-1, ARSAT-2 and ARSAT-3.

  • Conectar Igualdad (Spanish for Connecting Equality): It's the national program for reducing the digital divide. ARSAT is in charge of the satellite segment of the program through the SSGAT.
  • TDA: ARSAT is also in charge of the satellite broadcasting segment of the national digital television broadcasting network.

• Federal Fiber Optics Network (ReFeFO for Spanish: Red Federal de Fibra Óptica): The Argentine government has funded a 52,000 km (32,000 mi) fiber optic network to transport Internet, Digital Television, Telephony and private data. ARSAT is in charge of its construction and operation.

  • Conectar Igualdad: ARSAT is also in charge of leveraging the RFFO for this digital divide program.
  • TDA: ARSAT is also in charge of connecting the TDA terrestrial network through the RFFO.

• Data Center: In its ground station in Benavídez, Tigre Partido, Buenos Aires, ARSAT has built and operates a 4,200 m2 (45,000 sq ft) TIER III certified data center.

• CEATSA: An environmental testing laboratory. While it is physically connected to INVAP's satellite manufacturing facility, ARSAT holds a majority ownership (80% as of 2015).

• Libre.ar (cancelled): In December 2012, gave ARSAT a mandate to set up a cellular network that would be open to small operators. This was possible because the Government had kept a set of frequency bands for a national network operator. The program never materialized and just 18 months later the frequencies were put up for auction.

• CEATSA

• Nahuel 1A

• ARSAT-1

• ARSAT-2

• ARSAT SG-1 (formerly ARSAT-3)

• Official website