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Satnews Daily
January 14th, 2019

Capricorn Space Announces Contract to Purchase Initial S/X-Band Antennas for Australian Ground Network - West



The ground breaking ceremony at AGN-West on December 7, 2018. Photo is courtesy of Capricorn Space.

With the civil works underway at the first Australian Ground Network site near Geraldton in Western Australia (AGN-W), Capricorn Space CEO Mark Thompson has announced that CGC Systems has been contracted to supply and install the first antenna systems on site.

With implementation planning and execution now well advanced, Capricorn Space is poised to offer targeted ground segment service plans to satellite operators who require southern hemisphere coverage. The initial development of the AGN-W site allows for six antenna systems with the first two being owned and operated by Capricorn Space to provide on-demand access to multiple customers.

Executive Comment

Mark said that the company is pleased to announce the recent signing of a contract with CGC Systems of Basingstoke, UK, to supply and install two, 5 meter S/X-band antenna systems at the AGN-W site. This contract award followed an extensive industry wide engagement and formal tender process during the second half of 2018 and this contract award is in line with the firm's program timeline of offering commercial services by mid-2019.

The antennas to be supplied are the CGC Model T350SX and provide outstanding performance at a cost effective price point. The remaining antenna pads are available for third party hosting and we are in discussion with a number of operators to take advantage of the strategic location this site offers. Capricorn Space's ability to resolve the regulatory, power and communications challenges to establish this site has attracted significant interest from the global satellite industry and the company expects to have the ability to expand further on this site as demand dictates and are now forward planning for a second AGN site in eastern Australia (AGN-E), to follow before end 2019

CGC Technology CEO, Dr Mark Gardner, added the company is excited to be working with Capricorn Space on this project, a first for CGC in Australia using the company's highly effective X/Y antennas. Capricorn Space are a really dynamic and forward looking company offering an innovative and cost effective ground station network approach.