Telecommunications Satellite and Electronics Industrialists Business People Association TUYAD organized the “International Low Earth Orbit (LEO), Cube Satellite and Small Satellite Conference and Seminar” under the auspices of the Information Technologies and Communication Authority. BTK President Ömer Abdullah Karagözoğlu also attended the conference.
President Karagözoğlu stated that satellite technologies provide countries with significant advantages worldwide in political, strategic, military, technological, and economic fields, while also making very important contributions in the areas of communication, navigation, and Earth observation.
Karagözoğlu said, “This is precisely why our country continues its projects to increase its capacity and competitiveness in the satellite sector in order to fully benefit from these contributions. Turkey, which stepped into satellite technologies long ago with technological support from developed countries, has now become capable of producing its own communication and reconnaissance observation satellites with domestic and national capabilities. It has transformed into a country that has been present in various roles within the space industry for a very long time, and moreover, it has entered a process of steadily sustaining and further expanding this presence through initiatives. Behind this thrust lies the numerous projects, efforts, and collaborations of many institutions and organizations dating back many years.”
Stating that satellite technologies are at the top of the sensitive sectors where national production is essential, Karagözoğlu said, “As the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure and BTK; in 2018, we included our targets related to Satellite Technologies in our strategic plans. Our work continues with domestic and foreign actors in the necessary ecosystem within the scope of our Turkey Satellite Valley project. Many research and development projects related to small satellites are also being developed in our country. Since the launch of Turkey’s First Cube Satellite İTÜpSAT1 into orbit in 2009, our valuable institutions such as the Turkish Space Agency, TÜBİTAK, TÜRKSAT, Istanbul Technical University, ASELSAN, TUSAŞ, our universities, and companies continue to conduct studies in this field with increasing momentum.”
President Karagözoğlu: Keeping our country’s data in our country and compliance with legal regulations regarding personal data are among our priorities
Stating that meetings with national and international satellite companies wishing to provide services in Turkey continue, President Karagözoğlu said, “Providing services on equal terms with operators in our country, not having adverse effects on our existing national satellites, compliance with our national security regulations, keeping our country’s data in our country as much as possible, and ensuring compliance with legal regulations regarding personal data are among our primary expectations.”
Karagözoğlu concluded his speech by saying, “In particular, in recent times, we see that the interest of some of our domestic companies, besides TÜRKSAT, in Low Earth Orbit Satellites has increased. Our studies continue to determine the service provision conditions for the satellites sent by these companies, and we plan to complete these studies in a short time. At the same time, we are taking the necessary steps to quickly complete the ITU coordination processes required by our companies wishing to launch satellites on behalf of our country. In the field of Low Earth Orbit satellites, we continue our work with all stakeholders in a way that prioritizes our country’s interests at the highest level and strengthens our strong march in the communication field.”