e-GEOS, 4C sign Exclusive Strategic Alliance to Distribute COSMO-SkyMed Satellite Data

Released on Wednesday, January 28, 2009

e-GEOS, a company set up by Telespazio (Finmeccanica/Thales) and the Italian Space Agency, has signed a contract worth 180 million Euro with Luxembourg based company 4C Satellite Images & Technologies SA (4C) for the exclusive transfer of the marketing rights of the Earth observation radar data from the Italian COSMO-SkyMed satellites in Nord Africa-Middle East and South East Asia.

Under the agreement, 4C will be the exclusive distributor of COSMO-SkyMed data in the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) markets for the next ten years. In addition, 4C will acquire a ground station from e-GEOS for the reception and processing of COSMO-SkyMed data, which will be built in the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) region. e-GEOS and 4C will also work together on training activities and the development of applications.

The agreement also provides 4C with the right to distribute Cosmo-SkyMed products in substantially all other African countries on a non-exclusive basis pursuant to an ancillary agreement which the parties have agreed to negotiate and sign prior to July 31, 2009.

The agreement marks a major development in the global Earth observation industry and is expected to open up a new era in the security and surveillance services, particularly in the field of near real-time monitoring. The COSMO-SkyMed satellites have comprehensive data acquisition capabilities and can acquire images during the day, at night and in all weather conditions, thanks to a very high frequency low Earth orbit revisit cycle (every three to six hours).