Gazprom Space Systems
Gazprom Space Systems (GSS) is a private commercial, non-governmental satellite operator based in Russia. The main shareholder is Gazprom (established in 1989) and one of the largest energy companies in the world. GSS is one of the two Russian national satellite operators and one of about 50 satellite operators in the world.
GSS operates and develops the Yamal satellite communication system consisting of five mid-size satellites, providing 30% of the satellite capacity available in Russia; Yamal-202, Yamal-300K (183°E), Yamal-402 (55°E), Yamal-401 (90°E), Yamal-601 (49°E) and ground control complex, designed and built jointly with the RSC Energia Space company and ISS Reshetnev.
The Yamal-100 and Yamal-201 satellites serving mainly the Russian/CIS market. The Yamal-202 satellite has a wide service area covering most of the Eastern Hemisphere and caters to the international satellite market. The satellites are used to transmit over 60 Russian and foreign television channels and are also used by the Defense, Nuclear Energy and Education Ministries.
Gazprom Space Systems GSS is one of the two Russian national satellite operators and one of about 50 satellite operators in the world. has four teleports in the city of Moscow and in the surrounding Moscow region, which are connected to the main telecom backbones by means of fiber-optic lines. Gazprom Space Systems has more than 200 clients in Russia and abroad. One fourth of Gazprom Space Systems’ revenues come from the international markets.
With the launches of the Yamal-300K, Yamal-401 & Yamal-402 the company intended to increase its satellite capacity by 400% from current levels and to build a new teleport in the Moscow region.
Yamal-300K under test. 
Yamal-401 launched by ILS 
Yamal-402 under construction
Company History
In November 1992 Gazprom’s northern enterprises (Yamburggazdobicha, Tumenburgaz, Urengoygazprom, Nadimgazprom, Tumentransgaz), also RSC Energia and Gazprombank established the Joint Stock Company Gascom that was renamed in Gazprom Space Systems later on in 2008. Gazprom’s current shareholders are:
- Gazprom – 79,80%
- RSC Energia – 16,16%
- Gazprombank – 4,04%
Gazprom decided to develop its own next generation communication satellite. The realization of Yamal-100 projectbegan under which up-to-date communication satellite and ground operation facilities were developed.
In parallel, the development of satellite communication networks for Gazprom and, in particular, satellite data network for Gazprom’s subsidiaries and communications system with integrated services of Mezhregiongaz and Gazprombank was on going. The second company’s teleport was built in Gazprom’s headquarters in Moscow.
On September 6th, 1999 Gascom’s first satellite was the Yamal-100, built my Space Systems/Loral (SS/L). The spacecraft was launched by launch operator ILS and moved to the 90° East orbital position.
Between 1999 and 2004 all Gascom’s deployed communication networks were transferred to the Yamal-100 satellite. Also the company’s 3rd teleport was built in Dolgoe Ledovo, Moscow region.
The project for two new Yamal-200 satellites production is being implemented. This resulted in the launch of the Yamal-201 and Yamal-202 satellites on November 23rd, 2003. Yamal-201 was put in operation at the 90° East orbital position and Yamal-202 at the 49° East orbital position.
Between 2004 and 2008 the company built the regional teleport on the base of Tomsk State University in Schelkovo, Moscow. Late 2008, in December Gascom was renamed in Gazprom Space Systems.
In 2009 the restart of the Yamal-300 project took place. Also the project implementation of two new very powerful Yamal-400 satellites development began.
In 2010 the Yamal-100 satellite reached end of its operational lifetime and was taken out of service. The same year one of the old teleports and the Yamal-200 ground operation facility were moved to the telecommunication center Schelkovo.
In January 2014 GSS signed a contract with manufacturer Thales Alenia Space to build the Yamal-601 telecommunications satellite to replace aging Yamal-202. The new satellite would provide fixed communications, broadcast and Internet access services.
In August 2018 GSS and satellite networking company Gilat Satellite Networks, Ltd., signed an 18 million USD-contract, to provide broadband connectivity across Russia. Gilat will deliver its’ multiservice platform and user terminals to operate over the new Gazcom’s planned Yamal-601 Ka-band satellite.
Yamal-601 launched by ILS 
Yamal-601 in orbit
On May 31st 2019 launch operator ILS successfully launched the Yamal-601 Baikonur Cosmodrome launch site in Kazakhstan with a Proton M/Breeze M rocket. Thales Alenia Space transferred control of the Yamal-601 satellite to the Mission Control Center in Shchelkovo and GSS switched over all the networks from Yamal-202 to the new satellite.
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Resources
www.gazprom-spacesystems.ru
www.wikipedia.org
www.satbeams.com
www.satellitemarkets.com
www.spacenews.com edition May 10th 2017
www.prnewswire.com edition August 29th 2018
www.thalesgroup.com
www.spaceflightnow.com edition June 3rd 2019
www.russianspaceweb.com
www.space.skyrocket.de
www.spacewatchglobal.com