Eutelsat and Russian Satellite Communications Co. will work together on...

Eutelsat and Russian Satellite Communications Co. will work together on a satellite scheduled for launch in 2015, the companies said. Eutelsat and RSCC, a state-owned satellite operator, signed a memorandum of understanding in which a new satellite will be positioned at 36 degrees east and provide capacity for both operators, they said. Eutelsat will handle the financing of the satellite and the launch will be handled on the Russian side under the framework of the Russian Federal Space Programme, potentially lessening launch costs. RSCC will handle in-orbit operations, it and Eutelsat said. The satellite will serve sub-Saharan Africa for Eutelsat and Russia for both companies, they said. Eutelsat declined to give further terms of the memo.