由欧洲通信卫星组织(EUTELSAT)各成员国政府商定的联合协定已于1985年9月1日起开始生效。这个拥有25个成员国的组织将负责通信卫星系统的设计、制造、发射和运行,该系统可向所有成员国提供国际性通信服务。该组织在1977年建立时虽是一个非官方的临时性组织,但如今已在空间通信方面积累了经验,特别是在以下两方面: The joint agreement agreed by the governments of the EUTELSAT member states came into effect on September 1, 1985. The 25-member organization will be responsible for the design, manufacture, launch and operation of a communications satellite system that will provide international communications services to all member countries. Although the organization was established as an unofficial provisional organization in 1977, it has now accumulated experience in space communications, particularly in the following two aspects: