22 February 2015
Presided over by ARABSAT CTO, Mr. Mueid Al-Zahrani, the 7th Arabsat Telecom Forum in Al-Jadidah, Morocco, was attended by over 115 delegates from the field of telecommunications, broadband service providers and Arabsat customers.
The Forum discussed the technical aspects, payload and coverage maps of future ARABSAT satellite missions and the latest technology for satellite telecommunications services. The Forum was an ideal platform for Magrib Area Satcom Officials to share their experience with ARABSAT and other experts from around the world.
ARABSAT CTO Eng. Mueid Al-Zahrani commented: “Active participation of TAQNIA Space, Cetel, MICT, Level 421, SNL etc have added more colors to the forum by presenting their Network Solutions on ARABSAT fleet and coming Ka-Band solution on-board Hellas-Sat-4 that will eventually create new business streams in GCC and beyond”.
Eng/ Khalid Balkheyour, President & CEO of ARABSAT, stated: “We are currently working on the design of our new satellite fleet ARABSAT 6A at 30.5 Deg.East and HS-4 in partnership with Taqnia Space on Hellas-Sat orbital position to develop broadcasting & telecommunications services and enhancing the possibility of utilizing these orbital positions to promote and develop the services offered by Arabsat to its customers not only in the European continent, but in the Middle East, MENA, South Africa and beyond.” (Source: ARABSAT press release)
31 October 2014
Arab Satellite Communications Organization – Arabsat – holds its next Board of Directors meetings in Dubai, UAE, from 5th – 6th November 2014 , headed by the Saudi Ministry of Information Deputy and Arabsat Chairman Eng. / Saleh bin Abdulaziz AL-Moughaelith.
Nine Arab countries are participating in this meeting , Saudi Arabia – Kuwait – Libya – Qatar – United Arab Emirates – Oman – Iraq – Yemen – Tunisia.
Khalid Ben Ahmed Balkheyour, President & CEO of Arabsat, said that this session of the Board Meeting will be preceded by specialized committees meetings. The Board Meeting will discuss a number of topics, including the project of manufacturing and launching four new satellites, two of them on Arabsat orbital positions, and the other two on Hellas-Sat orbital positions. Hellas-Sat was acquired by Arabsat last year. These four satellites are considered a giant leap in terms of manufacturing technology and satellite capability and coverage.
Balkheyour added that Arabsat is the only satellite operator in the Middle East that offers a full range of satellite telecommunications and broadcasting services in addition to broadband services through a growing fleet of satellites on 26° East, 30.5° East and 20° East as well as Hellas-Sat orbital position 39°East.
14 September 2014
Selevision and Arabsat have announced today that they have entered into an exclusive long-term partnership to deliver the first Hybrid Broadcast Broadband TV (HbbTV) service to the MENA (Middle East & North Africa) The Service will be provided to Arabsat customer base from three different locations; Jordan Media City in Jordan, Du in UAE and Overon in Spain. The Arabsat Satellite based HbbTV service will be complimented by the Selevision OTT platform and content library of Selevision to provide different viewer experience for the 26deg Arabsat hotspot. Broadcasters will enjoy different standardized applications in addition to the wide possibilities of customized applications. The service will be available to viewers on all HbbTV compatible set-top-boxes in the market. Furthermore, Arabsat and Selevision will launch the first HbbTV Channel in the region as a pilot to present the concept to the customer base of Arabsat.
Dr. Raed Khusheim, Chief Executive Officer at Selevision said: “We are delighted to enter into this strategic partnership with Arabsat, one of the world’s leading satellite operators. We are constantly looking forward and committed to delivering engaging new services for customers, The HBBTV service will be compatible with all available HBBTV-ready boxes in the market, furthermore, we have also announced REDO, Selevision new invention; the first hybrid android unit with approved C.A.S system platform: REDO unit will allow us to provide a variety of interactive new hybrid services to the market before any other provider in the region”.
Khalid Balkhyour, President & CEO of Arabsat said: “ Arabsat is always keen to deliver new experience to its viewers and facilitate access to new technology for its broadcastors base customers; this partnership with Selevision will add value to Arabsat hotspot at 26deg E with its growing neighborhood that will benefit both the broadcaster and the viewer. This platform will leverage on Arabsat reach and on Selevision extremely competitive offerings and services. Both Parties have invested in this platform to provide an excellent cooperation model in the industry’
About HBBTV
HbbTV is a global initiative that brings together broadcast and broadband TV services into one ideal user experience through connected TVs, set-top boxes and multiscreen devices. The HbbTV standard utilises existing standards and web technologies including OIPF (Open IPTV Forum), CEA, DVB, MPEG-DASH and W3C. (Source : Arabsat press release)
24 March 2014
Arab Satellite Communications Organization (Arabsat) participates in the Gulf Radio & TV Festival in its 13th session. The event takes place March 25th – 27th 2014 in Manama – Kingdom of Bahrain, and Arabsat will also showcase its new satellites during the event.
Eng/Khalid bin Ahmed Balkheyour, President & CEO of Arabsat, said “Arabsat is always keen to sponsor and participate in various media events in the Arab world. Arabsat will be showcasing its new state-of–the-art satellite Badr-7, which is considered a breakthrough in Arabsat satellites combining satellite TV broadcasting services and satellite communications services. Badr-7 is expected to be launched next year on Arabsat exclusive Hot Spot 26° East to cover the Middle East and Central Asia.”
Balkheyour added “The manufacturing and launching RFP of Arabsat four new satellites has been already posed in an international tender in the market , two of them on Arabsat orbital positions, and the other two on Hellas-Sat orbital position, whose majority stake was acquired by Arabsat last year .These satellites will enhance and extend Arabsat coverage to include Europe, the Middle East and Africa. ” (Source: Press Release)
16 March 2014
Arab Satellite Communication Organization -ARABSAT- announces the release of a Request for Proposal for the procurement of four new satellites to be designated HS3, HS4, AR6E and AR6A.
The new satellites will be positioned at three different orbital locations with a vast coverage over Middle-Eastern, African, Asian and European markets with high power DTH payload in Ku bands and Ka spot beams capacities. Arabsat CEO Khalid Balkhyour commented: “The RFP for Arabsat’s 6th generation satellites reflects the company’s views on the exciting growth opportunities ahead of us and our commitment to capitalize on these opportunities.”
The two new HS3 and HS4 satellites will be favorable to the replacement of Hellas-Sat’s current HS2 at 39° East orbital slot with additional capacities in Ku and Ka bands payload brought to customers with great flexibilities. HS4 will, additionally, provide Arabsat with prime Ku-band capacity over Europe and the Mediterranean which will complement the existing in-orbit capacity . The current Hellas-Sat 2 covers Eastern Europe, part of the Middle East and South Africa.
ARB6E and ARB6A will have payload capacities in Ku and Ka bands. They will be dedicated to support the growth of ARABSAT’s business and provide in-orbit backup capacity to its customers; and to serve the increase in the markets demand for satellite capacities and services over the Middle-east, Africa and Asia. All four satellites are set to launch in 2016 and 2017.
Proposals are due no later than May 1st 2014, and it is ARABSAT who will manage this tender and pertinent contracts, which will be awarded through a full and open competition.
(Source: Arabsat press release)
