|
(MENAFN - Arab News) RIYADH, 17 June 2007 — Arab Satellite Communications Organization (Arabsat), the 30-year old leading Arab communications satellite operator based in Riyadh, signed a contract with a European consortium of companies to manufacture and launch two of its 5th generation satellites.
A firm contract for manufacturing Arabsat-5A and BADR-5 was signed here yesterday between Arabsat and a consortium of European companies, EADS-Astrium and Thales Alenia Space, to build the first two of its 5th generation satellites program.
Additionally, complementary contracts were also signed on the same day for the launch of these two new satellites, to be handled by France's Arianespace and US-based ILS/Proton, between the third quarter of 2009 and first quarter of 2010.
Mohammed Jameel Mulla, minister of Communications and Information Technology, made the keynote address prior to the signing ceremony held at the Four Seasons Hotel here. French Ambassador Charles D'Aragon was also present with some members of the French mission in Riyadh.
The spacecrafts will be launched by an Ariane-5 rocket from the Guiana Space Center, Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, and on a Proton Breeze-M vehicle from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
Arabsat 5th generation fleet consists of three satellites with a total of 130 transponders of all Ku-, C-, and Ka-, bands to be positioned at Arabsat three orbital positions, including the new 20°East. Its core missions will be to make it possible for Arabsat to execute its aggressive deployment strategy over the Middle East and North Africa region (MENA) markets, and well beyond, by ensuring continued expansion to the neighboring countries and protection of the existing services for the next 20 years with a very powerful state-of-the-art technology introducing the new Ka-band for specialized 2-way services. The third spacecraft Arabsat-5C, will be ordered in the coming months.
The France-based consortium of EADS-Astrium and Thales Alenia Space is building the satellites, and is responsible for delivering them in orbit. EADS-Astrium, the leading partner, will supply the two Eurostar E3000 platforms and integrate the satellites. Thales Alenia Space will design and build the communications payloads. The team will also upgrade the ground control segment for the extended Arabsat satellite fleet.
"We are extremely excited with today's actual kick-off of our 5th generation program which marks a key milestone in the deployment of Arabsat's long-term strategy to consolidate its leading position in the Arab world and expand aggressively with cutting-edge technologies coupled with the highest level of reliability," Khalid Balkheyour, Arabsat president and chief executive officer, said. The introduction of the first-ever in orbit "hot" back-up in the MENA region, as well as Ka-band, will allow us to offer to our customers an unprecedented level and unrivalled range of services.
The first satellite to be launched in 2009 would provide 40 new channels, while the second that will be operative in 2010 will offer 56 more channels. The two satellites weigh 4.8 tons and 5.4 tons, respectively. will cost the company $500 million.
While the first two 5th generation satellites are being built, Arabsat will launch BADR-6 by the second quarter of 2008 its second 4th generation satellites also built by EADS-Astrium and Thales Alenia Space on an Ariane-5 rocket.
Backed by the 21-member countries of the Arab League, and with its 30-year heritage of continuous operations, Arabsat offers the Arab world an unrivalled range of satellite-based communications services such as direct-to-home television and radio, telephony, internet and direct broadband access, as well as the provision of VSATs and other interactive services that meet both current and emerging demands.
Arabsat viewers grew by 26 percent in 16 months to 164 million, while its 26°E "hot-spot" has now become Arab world's primary video neighborhood of choice.
"Ranked as the world's 9th largest satellite operator, Arabsat is committed to aggressively expand its services in order to meet the evolving needs of its customers." Its vision is to consolidate its long-standing leading regional position as the pioneer of satellite communications throughout the Arab world by delivering an unparalleled level of service in the MENA region, providing quality products, employing the most skilled individuals and remaining at the forefront of new technologies.
Arabsat is the only qualified organization in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, with a fully integrated fleet of satellites operating on most frequency bands and encompassing within a single beam the whole region from Morocco to the Gulf, and beyond, plus a large part of sub-Saharan Africa.
|