Three groups have tendered for an Argentine government contract to launch into orbit and operate a domestic telecommunications satellite: one was formed by Intelsat, another includes Socma Americana of the local Macri business group and Agea of the local Clarin media concern, with General Electric Co Inc as operator, and the third consortium is formed by Embratel Ltda of Brazil, Alenia Spazio SpA of Italy and Aerospatiale SA, Alcatel Espace SA, and Deutsche Aerospace AG; bids are scheduled to be opened on December 16 and the contract is to be awarded to the winner on December 28; the Communications Undersecretariat estimates that the whole project could cost about $1,700m including putting the satellite into orbit and constructing the satellite earth stations.
