[SatNews] According to Central Asia Online's Dzhumaguly Annyev, Turkmenistan's first satellite, the Turkmen Alem 52.0E, is set to launch this March.

This information was stated by Deputy Prime Minister Satlyk Satlykov at a February 8 cabinet session, Char Tarapdan radio reported on February 9th.

Originally, the government had scheduled the launch for last November, but the event was postponed without public explanation. The satellite, which will be the first operated by a Central Asian country, is expected to advance the country's telecommunications and to help authorities keep an eye on the Afghan border, Turkmen media reported.