Doha: Es’hailSat, the Qatar Satellite Company, and Arabsat yesterday signed strategic partnership to promote co-operation and strengthen the reach of the 26 degrees East hot spot neighbourhood for television broadcasting.
As per the agreement, Es’hailSat will acquire the rights to 500MHz of premium Ku-band bandwidth at the 26.0 East TV broadcasting hot-spot.
Es’hailSat’s second satellite, Es’hail 2, will use these frequencies and it will be designed to provide DTH and other telecommunications services from the 26 degrees East hot spot.
This will significantly increase Es’hailSat’s capacity at the 25.5/26.0 East TV broadcasting hot-spot, and strengthen Es’hailSat’s in-orbit back-up capability when both Es’hail 1 and Es’hail 2 are operational.
The agreement between Es’hailSat and Arabsat will pave the way for enhanced operational flexibility and mutual in-orbit back-up between the two satellite fleets.
The agreement was signed in Doha by Ali Al Kuwari, Es’hailSat’s CEO and Khalid Balkheyour, President and CEO of Arabsat in the presence of Minister of Communication and Information Technology H E Dr Hessa Sultan Al Jaber and Fareed Khashoggi, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Arabsat.
Commenting on the agreement, Al Kuwari, said: “We are delighted to be able to work with Arabsat on the development of the 26 degrees East prime TV broadcasting hot-spot. With our first satellite – Es’hail 1 - scheduled for launch on August 29 and our plans for Es’hail 2 now confirmed, we are moving closer to providing the necessary capacity to enable our customers to substantially increase their communications capability, particularly in broadcasting in HD and 3D”.
“We are very pleased with this strategic long-term partnership with Es’hailSat which will strengthen Arabsat hot spot 26 degrees east and will provide a strong boost for Es’hailSat,” Balkheyour said.
“This partnership will provide our customers and viewers with more alternatives and variety of contents that will be beneficial for both operators and will make 26 degrees East the premium hot spot of the region“.
“We wish Es’hailSat success in launching Es’hail 1 at the end of this month, and all the success and prosperity in launching and operating more satellites,” he added.
The Peninsula
