The consolidation of the satellite activities of Alcatel, Aerospatiale and Thomson CSF was officially completed on 1 July as part of a restructuring of the French electronics industry.
The new company, in which Alcatel will hold a 51% share and Thomson 49%, will become the third largest satellite manufacturing organisation in the world after Lockheed Martin and NewCo, a mix of Matra Marconi Space and the Daimler-Benz Aerospace Space Systems division which is in the process of being established.
The Alcatel-led company will be divided into three business units: spacecom, space industries, and communications and Earth stations, focusing on three areas of expertise - satellite telecommunications systems, Earth observation, and defence.
Source: Flight International