VIEW FROM THE TOP
MEXSAT TO INCLUDE MEXICAN TECH, PROFESSIONALS FRANCISCO MENDIETA General Director of the Mexican Space Agency (AEM)
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Q: How does the government support the space industry
While this can be done with fiber optic cables, they would
to boost economic development?
take years to be installed, are prohibitively expensive and
A: The sector receives constant support from the federal
operations are complex. A satellite can provide immediate
government. The Mexsat system provides support to
access. In areas with other communication alternatives,
telecommunications across Mexico and its seas, the south
such as fiber optics, satellites act as support and backup.
of the US and part of Central America. It consists of two satellites, which are Bicentenario, for fixed service, and
Q: To what extent will the Mexsat satellite incorporate
Morelos III, for mobile service. In 2017, a bid for a third
Mexican manufacturing?
Mexsat satellite will take place under the direction of the
A: The Mexican satellite industry has evolved. We
Deputy Minister of Communications. The new satellite
expect larger participation for the newest bid from local
will address the growing demand for good quality, rapid
technicians, operators and companies, both for space
telecommunications at a reasonable cost, social networks
vehicles and ground operations. The AEM is surveying
and uploading and downloading data.
companies with capabilities in mechanics, materials, software and orbital studies for the space sector. The
Smaller satellites can fully orbit the Earth once every 90 minutes and ensure greater broadband width
tender for the satellite will include Mexican companies and professionals from the beginning. The Mexsat satellite’s complexity means it will take at least three years to manufacture. After it is built, the satellite will enter a one-year commissioning period, during which it is placed in orbit to test all its systems. After being cleared for orbit the satellite will begin normal operations.
The emergence of Big Data has increased the requirements for communication and information processing, leading
Q: What will differentiate the new unit from existing
countries to require better communication systems.
Mexican satellites?
Industry 4.0 has connected most equipment in
A: Large satellites such as Morelos III are orbiting the Earth
manufacturing plants wirelessly, sometimes through Wi-
in a fixed orbit 36,000km away, delaying communication
Fi, Wimax or Bluetooth for short distances. Satellites can
with the planet by 250ms. Smaller satellites are 100 times
be a good solution for countries that are developing land
closer so transmission is faster. These satellites need less
infrastructure but need an integral, short-term solution
power and do not need to be in a determined orbit, a
that guarantees access to broadband, and which can be
significant advantage as fixed orbital positions are hotly
deployed quickly with low risk.
contested among satellite operators. Smaller satellites can fully orbit the Earth once every 90 minutes and
Emerging economies like Mexico invest in satellites
having a network of hundreds of them ensures constant
for fast, economical and reliable infrastructure and
communication with greater broadband width, and fewer
telecommunications support. Most space projects have no
delays due to disconnections.
crew and are instead used to relay information. Satellites and antennae technology have a significant number of
The main advantage of networks of small satellites is
applications, including television transmissions that track
that they are more accessible for economies like Mexico.
disaster areas to measure the effects of global warming.
An investment in these technologies will strengthen
These technologies also communicate with remote areas.
integration across Mexico’s territory.
