Government is in talks to find a taker for its satellite slot before it expires in April next year.Environment, Planning and Infrastructure Strategy Minister Marc Bean told The Royal Gazette last night that the Government was confident of success.“Bermuda is currently in discussions with an operator to bring our orbital slot into use,” Mr Bean said. “We fully anticipate that the operators will be able to do so by the April 2013 deadline.“We are in regular contact with the operator to coordinate activities and to ensure that we remain on target.”His comments came after Space News, an online publication of record for the space industry, reported yesterday: “The Government of Bermuda is rushing to find an in-orbit satellite to fill an orbital slot before Bermuda’s rights to it expire in mid-2013.”Space News said the prime slot, at 96.2 degrees west and covering the US, in principle became more valuable in 2011 when the Isle of Man lost its right to an orbit slot next door when the deadline passed with no spacecraft present. The slot could generate millions a year for Government if a satellite operator is found for it.“The Isle of Man orbital position was 96.5 degrees. With both jurisdictions scrambling to fill their positions, and only 32 Ku-band channels available at the two positions combined, prospective satellite operators viewed the risks of interference as a deterrent to investing,” Space News said.Bermuda and Isle of Man were embroiled in a lengthy legal battle over the slot with Bermuda claiming that a satellite to be launched into the slot would interfere with a pre-existing frequency assignment. Isle of Man claims it won the dispute and was awarded costs, however, it was unable to get a satellite into the slot before its rights to it expired.Space News said Mr Bean told them Government authorities view the position, which offers a good look angle on North America, as “one of our most valuable assets”.“In a July 23 interview, Bean said recent regulatory rulings would permit Bermuda to maintain access to the slot even if it placed a satellite there for just 90 days — for example, during the post-launch period when a satellite undergoes in-orbit testing,” Space News said, quoting Mr Bean as saying: “It is on the top of our priority list. Our view is that this should be attractive to several operators.”The site continued: “Bermuda, which prides itself as a place where taxes and government bureaucracy are kept to a minimum, views the space industry as a natural fit. Bermuda already is home to multiple large insurance companies. Bean said the government is working with Lloyd’s of London and other underwriters in an attempt to make the space insurance market more attractive to customers.”