The latter places emphasis on promoting the satellite services company ARSAT, reinforcing and expanding the penetration of Federal Fiber Optic Network (Refefo), updating the national data center and taking advantage of geostationary satellite services for places of difficult access. However, the path is not simple, since it is a strategic and highly complex sector, which was also defunded by the management of Cambiemos, specifically Rodrigo de Loredoson-in-law of the then Minister of Communications Oscar Aguadhad started the delivery of the ARSAT-3 project to the American company Hughes Communications through the letter of intent signed on June 29, 2017 between Rodrigo De Loredo and the company, belonging to EchoStar Corporationbeing one of the leading companies in Ka Band services in the region.
EchoStar Corporation It is backed by various financial funds of Anglo-American origin. More than 28% of the shareholding in this company is in the hands of capital belonging to Vanguard Group and Blackrock. These funds are considered the big playersor big players, of global finance, having the ability to impose strong conditions on others, including countries.
The agreement signed at that time between the former official and the US company, proposing to cede 51% of the satellite to the foreign company, put the technology sector and a number of actors in the Argentine congress on alert.
With him change of management, in February 2020, the president Alberto Fernandez announced the resumption of the Argentine Satellite Plan that includes the construction of the geostationary ARSAT-SG1 with services in Ka Band, to be developed through the Rio Negro company INVAP in alliance with the company Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI).
In 2020, a directory was defined with people with a track record and experience in the sector such as Paul Tognetti (President), William Rus (vice president) and directors such as Facundo Leal, Marcelo Tesoro and Anabel Cisneros.
After 2 years of management and realization of various objectives throughout the country, on January 25, 2022, through Resolution 17/2022 of the Chief of the Cabinet of Ministers, it was proposed to claudia elena as possible director of ARSAT, who exercised questionable functions during the presidency of Carlos Saul Menem. His appointment was instantly repudiated by the sector and blocked by the satellite company. Additionally, it replaced Anabel Cisneros for the Rio Negro Soledad Gonnet, former vice president of INVAP; finally being composed of Tognetti (president), Guillermo Rus (vice president); Facundo Leal, Marcelo Tesoro and Soledad Gonnet as directors.
Once the agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) was signed, on January 28, 2022, and after announcing, on February 1, the Closing of the Review of the Requirements of the ARSAT-SG1 Satellite; movements in the board of directors continued, since on February 24, 2022, the economist and former vice president of Banco Nación close to Sergio Masa, Matias Tombolini He was appointed as president of the company. The minutes of the assembly mention that “it is convenient that the incoming Board of Directors convene an Ordinary Assembly in order to appoint Dr. Nestor Pablo Tognetti in the position of General Manager due to his great career in the field and field in which the company operates.
Alberto Fernandez Connectivity Arsat.jpg
Presidency of the Nation
On March 2, at the Opening of the Ordinary Sessions of the National Congress, the president announced the creation of ARSAT-SG2 and reported that Refefo will be updated with a view to expanding traffic capacity 10 times.
15 days after the change of the ARSAT directory, on March 11, Nestor Pablo Tognettiresigned through a letter in which he harshly questioned the new president of the company, Matias Tombolini. “I find it impossible to live with the attitudes of the new head of the board, who I believe violates the history of the company and disrespects the objectives that it has embodied since its foundation”emphasized: “I can’t find another way based on the behavior of the new president of the company, with methodologies that I consider opposed to the institutional culture of a technology company, and in particular of ARSAT”. In addition, he added that “It is impossible to live with the attitudes of the new head of the Board of Directors” and considered that “ It violates the history of the company and disrespects the objectives that it has embodied since its foundation”.
Additionally, the agenda of the United States ambassador in the country, Mark Robert Stanley, reflects the pace that Washington imposed on bilateral relations in recent months. On the way he met with the Minister of Defense, Jorge Taiana; that of Economy, Martin Guzman; the security, Hannibal Fernandez; of Science, Daniel Filmus; of work, Claudius Moroni; of production, Matias Kulfasof Education, Jaime Perczyk; and with the Secretary for Strategic Affairs, Gustavo Beliz; and some more as his Twitter account shows.
On March 19, the deputy head of the National Cabinet, George Nemeand the director of the World Bank in Argentina, jordan schwartzclosed the Mission of the Digital Infrastructure Development Program and it was announced that “The Digital Infrastructure Development Program foresees a loan of 170 million dollars and aims to promote innovation in the digital services provided by the State through ARSAT.”
The differences that Tognetti indicates may be linked to the approach of the new directorate towards the United States, its intentions regarding the satellite sector and possible external conditioning.
The recent events would support his decision, since from March 21 to 24, in the framework of the Satellite 2022 fair that takes place in Washington DC, a delegation led by Filmus and Kulfas was present, who are accompanied by the directors of the National Commission for Space Activities (CONAE) and 12 representative companies of the Argentine satellite industry.
In addition to this, on March 21, the Professional Council of Telecommunications, Electronics and Computing Engineering (COPITEC), sent a letter to John ManzurChief of Staff of the Nation, highlighting his “deep concern” by the decisions taken at the national level, they added that “The telecommunications area of the National State is an example of the situation raised. The lack of suitable professionals, in strategic leadership positions within State structures, today occupied by officials who are not prepared to design policies that take into account technological trends and the changes that are taking place in the world, affects the efficient performance in fulfilling the missions and functions assigned to the agencies”.
The latest events that have had the company Arsat as their axis are just the tip of an iceberg that, silently, advances and becomes a factor of degradation of the professions, in particular of telecommunications and other technologies and services designated as ICT ( Information and communication technologies).
Argentina had for the first time place in the pavilion of the fair Satellite 2022. Meetings were organized between the Argentine firms and the companies grouped in CompTIA (Computer Technology Industry Association).
In line with the above, on March 23, Arsat posted on Twitter “Our president @matiastombolini met with Argentine representatives of the @World Bank, @cecilianahon and of @el_bidWilliam Franks. They explored new financing possibilities and worked on possible association agreements with other countries in the region.”and hours later “We participated in the launch of the Argentine Technology Day at the Embassy @ARGinUSA. An event that brought together entrepreneurs from the satellite and aerospace sector from the public and private sectors.”
Then, on March 24, it was possible to sign the incorporation as a full member of the Global Satellite Operators Association (GSOA), by integrating Facundo Leal, to the board of directors of the association. GSOA is an international association representing global and regional satellite operators.
Beyond the personal overtones of each of the statements, it is possible to appreciate that the prestigious company ARSAT is not exempt from the tensions present at the national level. The concern about the surrender of sovereignty and erroneous decisions in favor of US capital is latent; The sector fears that economic maneuvers similar to those proposed by Rodrigo De Loredo will occur in order to generate links to “energize” and “make the company more profitable”; betting on a joint-venture as one of the possible mechanisms to finance the ARSAT-SG2 but that could condition Argentina more.
Considering the direction that ARSAT is taking, from the Observatory of Energy, Science and Technology (OECYT) we believe that this framework of alliances can be achieved through agreements that promote regional integration, developing better conditions for society as a whole, without giving up sovereignty and making decisions about a scarce and crucial resource in the 21st century.
Telecommunications Engineer and Master in Engineering Sciences (UNRC). Director of the Energy, Science and Technology Observatory (OECYT) associated with the People and Science platform.
Source: Ambito
