How the reserve satellite control center "Kazsat" was created
ALMATY. KAZINFORM - An important space object is located in the Ili district of the Almaty region - the Kokterek Space Communications Center (CCS) - a backup control complex for Kazsat satellites. Space communication is one of the keys to the country's information security. On the eve of the 30th anniversary of Independence of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the director of the center Roman Ermashov told the correspondent of Kazinform INA about the new tasks of the "Kokterek" SCC, on the basis of which the first teleport in Kazakhstan was created.

- Roman Sergeyevich, you practically headed the construction of the Kokterek from the first day, what task was assigned to you as a specialist?

- I joined the staff of the Republican Center for Space Communications (RCSC) in May 2011. The task that the ex-head of the RCSC, Viktor Dmitrievich Lefter, set for me was control over the construction of the ground control complex, technical supervision, because before that, while working at the Nursat company, I had experience in this regard. Of course, it was not easy to create a technological facility in the steppe: there was no heat, cold, no power lines, the whole construction site was powered by a diesel generator, we lived in trailers… When the main buildings and structures were built, I, being the acting director of the center, began to delve into the technological part: the ground antenna system, the communication monitoring system. During the internship at the main Mission Control Center (MCC) in Akkol, I got acquainted with the features of the energy system, so there was a holistic picture: what needs to be improved, modernized in the new center at the initial stage of construction. June 28, 2013 Reserve Ground Control Complex (RGCC) "Kokterek" was put into operation. And it was human happiness, pride that they created a new, modern object of space infrastructure. The task set by the National Space Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan, headed by Talgat Musabayev, to reserve the work of the main Akkol Central Space Station was completed. This was the second stage of the development of space communications in Kazakhstan.

- When and how did the idea of creating a teleport based on Kokterek come about, what economic benefits does it give to the enterprise?

- Almost immediately. The object was commissioned, the operation phase began in 2013. The company management devotes to the basic economic canons of operation. Reserve complex - money doesn't seem to work here. Money is needed for the maintenance of the facility, staff, and all systems. How to compensate for operating costs, how to support yourself not only by renting a transponder capacity? And I came up with the "lifting/landing of satellite signals" - "Pre-hubbing" services. This is the organization of the technical possibility of lifting and landing traffic on board the satellites of the Kazsat series and bringing the service to any point in Kazakhstan, as well as to the territory of neighboring states. And in general, teleport services allowed satellite operators to provide themselves with a complete independent communications infrastructure, the possibility of reserving terrestrial channels. To organize the teleport, we had 70-80% of the technical equipment, 100 million tenge was needed for re-equipment. We are actively engaged in modernization. So, the costs were made, everything was ready, and there were no customers... It was a very stressful period in my life: psychologically it was hard to realize: is it all wasted? Astel was the first to arrive, followed by other telecom operators who wanted to place their server and telecommunications equipment to ensure its complete reliability and security on our teleport. So in a few years, the teleport recouped all costs, and came out on a net profit. To date, the teleport has a significant potential, it can give the same amount of infrastructure capacity.

-The Kokterek Space Communications Center is 8 years old. Has your role as a leader changed today?

- No, it hasn't changed. I am the head of the classic. I consider the role of the input filter to be important for myself, as a manager, that is, to create such conditions for the team so that specialists are not distracted by unnecessary questions, there is maximum concentration of attention on tasks. The main function of our center remains the same - the reservation of the ground equipment of the satellites "Kazsat-2", "Kazsat-3". Synchronously, every second we work with the main Center in Akkol. We conduct trainings on a quarterly basis in case of reservations. But, thank God, in reality we have not encountered such a situation. We managed to create comfort on the territory of the center of 25 hectares, which also requires a lot of effort to maintain order in such a large farm. We have 33 people working in the Center - space communications engineers, energy and technological service specialists. The main thing is that there should always be an understanding of the significance of your work, that the entire technological chain depends on the quality of your tasks. After all, in case of an emergency situation, there will be no opportunity to go into the next room and fix something on the satellite, because it flies at an altitude of 39 thousand kilometers. We have a good team, I appreciate honesty and punctuality in my colleagues. Personally, I really appreciate the time and try to win it.

- What are the new tasks of the "Kokterek" SCC in the light of the implementation of the pilot project of non-geostationary satellite systems (NGSO)?

- Currently, satellite systems, including NGSO, are actively developing all over the world. According to geographical and technological parameters, our "Kokterek" SCC was determined to participate in the international pilot project of the NGSO. The equipment of the European satellite communications company SES is being placed and tested on the basis of Kokterek to provide remote settlements of Kazakhstan with fast Internet. Only demonstration equipment has been placed, this is not a hub network, but a satellite communication bridge between the Kokterek CCS and several villages in the Almaty region. The result is visible, of course. Wi-fi exhibits have been installed in schools in the settlements of Akterek and Beriktas, to which you can connect with a gadget and get high-speed Internet.

- This year marks the 30th anniversary of Independence of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The contribution of the RCSC to the sovereignty of the country - what is it, in your opinion?

- Due to the peculiarities of our country, which is the ninth territory in the world, but sparsely populated, I believe that Kazakhstan cannot do without space communications. The contribution of "RCSC" JSC to the sovereignty of the country is an independent national space communication system "Kazsat", which was created and successfully operated by our team. Unfortunately, the removal from the agenda of the replacement satellite for the grouping of our geostationary satellites was dictated by economic reasons. But, I think, Kazakhstan will not remain without satellite communications, we will look for solutions to develop our own system, and also use new global satellite technologies. We will keep our finger on the pulse so that Kazakh society can always be sociable.

More detailed:

https://www.inform.kz/ru/30-letie-nezavisimosti-rk-kak-sozdavalsya-rezervnyy-centr-upravleniya-sputnikami-kazsat_a3870559