The European Commission has given Finmeccanica and Alcatel the go-ahead to form two sister companies as part of the merger of their respective space activities. France-based Alcatel Alenia Space and Italian Telespazio are due to begin operating on 1 July.
Following EU concerns over competition in the telemetry, tracking and control (TTC) and radar altimeter sectors, the companies have agreed to offer a licence for both subsystems and to monitor TTC prices. "These conditions will maintain effective competition in the European space industry, while allowing the parties to structure their businesses more efficiently through the joint ventures," says EU competition commissioner Neelie Kroes.
Alcatel Alenia Space, of which Alcatel will hold 67% and Finmeccanica 33%, will concentrate on the design, development and manufacture of space systems, satellites, equipment, instruments, payloads and associated ground systems. Telespazio, of which Finmeccanica will hold 67% and Alcatel 33%, will concentrate on operations and services for satellites, including control and exploitation of space systems and networking, multimedia and earth observation services.
Finmeccanica and Alcatel signed a memorandum of understanding for the deal in June last year, and finalised it in January.
HELEN MASSY-BERESFORD/LONDON
Source: Flight International
