Israeli satellite operator Spacecom has lost contact with its Amos-5 communication satellite. The company sad the satellite loss will be covered by an USD 158 million insurance policy and will have a minimal impact on its finances.
Spacecom said it does not know what caused the failure in Amos-5, which was manufactured by Russia's ISS-Reshetnev, launched in 2011 and provides coverage to clients in Africa. The company is working with clients that used the satellite at 17 degrees East to find alternative solutions to maintain their services.
Spacecom has three other satellites functioning in orbit and plans to launch a fourth at the start of 2016. The company is expected to launch Amos-6 in 2016 and has already signed a deal with Facebook to provide internet coverage to large parts of Sub-Saharan Africa.
