Iran plans to launch its first Russian-made telecommunications satellite in two years, reported the official Iranian news agency (IRNA) on Saturday.
The agency quoted an official as saying that the Zohreh satellite would be used for sending radio, television and telephone signals. He also said that Russia would launch it into the orbit.
The International Telecommunications Union has filed for an extension of the reserved orbiting sites in space for the Iranian satellites, he added.
Russia won the tender offered by Iran on the construction of the satellite after India pulled out of the bidding, said IRNA.
Russia, France and China were locked in a rivalry to win the bidding.
An Iranian delegation visited Moscow in March and finalized the deal at the beginning of the current Iranian calendar year on March 21.
The Zohreh satellite is to be the first of six to be built.
The total cost of the project is estimated at $300 million.
The project was scheduled for completion by the end of ths November, but failed to meet its target date because of financing problems.
The project has been on the table for 23 years, but its implementation has been put off several times – Albawaba.com
