[NYTr] The Year of the Chinese Satellite in Venezuela Date: Wed, 2 Jan 2008 17:42:17 -0600 (CST) Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit Prensa Latina, Havana http://www.plenglish.com The Year of the Chinese Satellite in Venezuela Caracas, Jan 2 (Prensa Latina) Although no date has been set yet, 2008 will be The Year of the Satellite in Venezuela, when the "Simon Bolivar" satellite, currently under construction in China, will be launched. According to predictions, the satellite must be put into orbit and operational during the second semester of 2008, and will be functioning for 15 years to guarantee communications in the country. Venezuelan authorities plan to put into place an 11,800-mile fiber optic network by 2010. Preparations to achieve that goal began in 2007, when the CompaC1ia Anonima Nacional Telefonos de Venezuela (CANTV) was nationalized. Other measures will include the interconnection of the fiber optic networks of CANTV, Petroleos de Venezuela, Electricidad de Caracas, CompaC1ia Anonima de AdministraciC3n y Fomento Electrico, Electricidad del Caroni and Telecom Venezuela. That network will be 8,700 miles long by 2008 or 2009. At the same time, the National Telecommunications Commission will issue an invitation to tender for another 3,100 miles, as part of a project that is scheduled for completion in 2010. Some 90 Venezuelan professionals and technicians trained in China are already working on the satellite project. Venezuelan authorities will build their own satellites to improve telecommunications, medicine, education, and communications among public institutions, production centers, social organizations and communities. The "Simon Bolivar" satellite, which will cost 240 million dollars, will be launched from China after the Olympic Games, and Venezuela will have total autonomy to operate it. hr jg ml PL-1 * ================================================================= NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us Our main website: http://www.blythe.org List Archives: http://blythe-systems.com/pipermail/nytr/ Subscribe: http://blythe-systems.com/mailman/listinfo/nytr =================================================================