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Türkiye's first indigenous communication satellite, Turksat 6A, has achieved its first export deal, providing satellite capacity for South Asian markets including India, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia, Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu announced.
The milestone agreement was announced during the CABSAT 2025 Fair in Dubai, marking a significant step for Türkiye's space technology sector and commercial satellite operations.
Minister Uraloglu said the agreement with a Dubai-based company represents both technical capability and commercial success for Türkiye's satellite industry.
"With Turksat 6A, which is the product of Turkish engineering, we are exporting satellite capacity for the first time to the most distant eastern coverage areas," Uraloglu stated. "With this sale, Turksat has started to provide direct services to the South Asian market, covering countries such as India, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia."
The minister emphasized that Turksat satellites now serve a vast geography spanning from Western Europe to India and from Central Asia to South Africa.
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Uraloglu highlighted Türkiye's growing space technology independence, noting that previous international services relied on other satellites for capacity exports.
"Today, we have reached the point where, with Turksat 6A, which is the product of Turkish engineering, we are exporting satellite capacity for the first time to the most distant eastern coverage areas," he said. "This is not just a capacity sale, but also the registration of Türkiye's technological sovereignty in space."
The minister described Turksat as now capable of reaching 5 billion people within its satellite coverage area, providing services with significantly enhanced satellite technology capabilities.
"Turksat, with its satellite fleet including Turksat 6A, which is 100% the work of Turkish engineering, can reach 65% of the world," Uraloglu said. "Turksat, which is making a name for itself all over the world, has now become one of Türkiye's international brands as a global player."
The export deal enables Turksat to enter the South Asian market, where it previously had limited active presence, strengthening its position in international competition.
Uraloglu noted that the agreement enhances Turksat's brand value internationally and represents concrete results of strategic satellite fleet planning aligned with international service objectives.
"We are no longer just the observers in space but the ones giving direction," the minister stated, emphasizing Türkiye's transition from technology dependence to technology leadership.
Turksat 6A was developed through collaboration between TUBITAK UZAY, TAI, ASELSAN, and CTECH, representing Türkiye's first fully indigenous communication satellite.
Key Technical details:
The Turksat 6A project contract was signed on December 15, 2014, under TUBITAK coordination to meet TURKSAT A.S. requirements. Financing came from the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, TURKSAT A.S., and TUBITAK.
TAI handled the development of structural, thermal, and chemical propulsion subsystems along with mechanical ground support equipment and cable design and production. The company also participated in satellite data handling, command and control software, and satellite assembly, integration, and testing activities alongside TUBITAK Space.
Assembly, integration, and testing activities were conducted at the Space Systems Integration and Test Center (USET) established at TUSAS facilities.
The satellite launched from the Cape Canaveral launch facility in Florida on July 8, 2024, and was subsequently positioned in a 35,786-kilometer altitude circular orbit.
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