(MENAFN- The Peninsula) Qatar Satellite Company, Es'hailSat, has announced that following international consultation, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (MELCO) has been selected to build the company's second satellite, Es'hail 2.
The new high-performance satellite will be positioned at 26 degrees East hotspot position for TV broadcasting and add to the company's ability to provide high quality, premium DTH TV content across the Middle East and North Africa.
Es'hail 2 will have Ku-band and Ka-band capabilities and will provide TV distribution and government services to stakeholders and commercial customers who value broadcasting and communications independence, interference resilience, quality of service and wide geographical coverage. It will also provide the first Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT) geostationary communication capability that links Brazil to India in one hop and in real-time. It will allow the AMSAT community to validate and demonstrate their DVB standard.
Es'hail 2 design activities started on July 17 and will take about 27 months to complete the manufacturing and testing.
The satellite is expected to be launched at the end of 2016.
In addition to the manufacture of Es'hail 2, MELCO will also operate an in-house satellite training programme for Qatari engineers, continuing the company's strategy of developing capabilities within the organisation and building a sustainable satellite industry for Qatar.
Ali Al Kuwari, CEO, Es'hailSat, said: "With the success of our first satellite, Es'hail 1, we are delighted to move forward with our satellite procurement programme with MELCO.
"Es'hail 2 demonstrates our commitment to provide premium satellite capacity for broadcasters in the Mena region and build a sustainable satellite industry for Qatar."
Yasunori Kamochi, General Manager, Space Systems Division, MELCO, said: "We are honoured that Mitsubishi Electric and our DS2000 satellite bus platform with high quality and high reliability have been selected to manufacture Es'hail 2 by Es'hailSat.
"We are confident that we will contribute to the growth of the satellite industry for Qatar by providing high-performance satellite to Es'hailSat."
Es'hail 1, Qatar's first satellite, entered commercial service on Qatar National Day on December 18 last year. Through its existing and planned satellites, Es'hailSat will broadcast diversified and high quality premium content with anti-jamming capabilities in the Mena region.
Aljazeera and beIN Sports are using Es'hail 1 capacity for high definition broadcasting of their premium channels, including the recent 2014 FIFA World Cup.
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