An agreement was signed on Monday, November 29, 2010, between Istanbul Technical University, ITU ARI Technopark, and TÜRKSAT Satellite Communications Cable TV and Operations Inc. for "the first domestically produced communications satellite to operate in orbit.".
The agreement, within the scope of TÜRKSAT Intermediate Satellite Projects-1, stipulates that the "TÜRKSAT-3USAT Satellite for Communication Purposes" will be produced by İTÜ ARI Technopark and tested in İTÜ laboratories. The satellite's payload will include channels allowing multiple people to communicate simultaneously. The project aims to provide knowledge and human resources for communication satellite development efforts in Türkiye.
The communications satellite, which will cost no more than 1 million TL, is planned to be launched at the end of 2011.
