Iran interested in Russian communication satellite network project

MOSCOW. April 13 (Interfax) - Tehran is interested in joining Russia's Sfera federal project, which aims to create a satellite network, Iranian Ambassador Kazem Jalali said.

"Sfera is viewed as an exceptional political and economic opportunity and an opportunity in the field of security. In the context of the program of space cooperation with the Russian Federation, we declare our readiness and utmost intention to build a partnership and to establish our presence in this cloud project," Jalali said at the Sfera international navigation forum on Thursday.

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the Sfera project, which will create a global satellite network to provide Internet and telephone services to Russia and other countries, in July 2018.

The Sfera network will consist of five communication satellite groups, namely, Yamal, Express-RV, Express, Skif and Marafon, and five remote sensing satellite groups - Berkut-Kh, Berkut-O, Berkut-VD, Berkut-S and Smotr.