Israeli company Spacecom Satellite Communications, which operates the international Amos communications satellite system, won a $27.6 million five-year contract to supply communications from its latest satellite, Amos 5.

In December 2009, Spacecom signed an agreement to provide satellite communications to Africa, temporarily via the Amos 5i satellite until the Amos 5 launched in mid-2011.

But a component issue, discovered in July of 2011, delayed the launch of Amos 5. Russian Manufacturer ISS Reshetnev began testing to resolve the flaw just after Spacecom announced that it had signed a $12.5 million transponder-lease agreement with an African Internet services provider for Amos 5.

ISS Reshetnev notified Spacecom that the issue was resolved on September 1, allowing the satellite to launch on schedule in December. Amos 5 is the fourth satellite Spacecom has in orbit, and will grant the entire African continent with access to Europe and the Middle East. Amos 4 is expected to become operational in 2013, while Amos 6 will launch in 2014.