Qatari satellite operator Es’hailSat has signed a consultancy service agreement with SES TechCom, the technical consulting subsidiary of satellite operator SES.
In the framework of the contract, SES TechCom will support Es’hailSat in the development…
Qatari satellite operator Es’hailSat has signed a consultancy service agreement with SES TechCom, the technical consulting subsidiary of satellite operator SES.
In the framework of the contract, SES TechCom will support Es’hailSat in the development of its new teleport facility. The teleport will be built on a green field site north of Doha. It will be designed as a modern, state of the art facility providing satellite control and communications support (TT&C) for the Es’hail 2 satellite.
It will also offer up-linking and reception facilities tailored for Es’hailSat’s business partners.
Es’hailSat ordered Es’hail 2 from Mitsubishi Electric (Melco) in September. The spacecraft, which will be fitted with Ku and Ka band transponders, is due to be launched to 26E at the end of 2016. The company has yet to announce a launch partner.
The total cost of the project, including its ground infrastructure, is estimated at around US$360m, which will be fully funded by the Qatari government with no export credit agency support.
Commenting on the contract, Ali Ahmed Al-Kuwari, CEO of Es’hailsat, said: “We are delighted to be working on this important project with SES TechCom, a world leading company with proven expertise in the design and delivery of satellite ground station facilities.
“The establishment of our own teleport in Qatar is an integral part of the Es’hailSat programme, giving us a secure and independent satellite infrastructure. It marks another key milestone in our plan to become a leading satellite operator and centre of excellence in the MENA region.”
In order to achieve these plans Es’hailSat has sought to work with established operators. The company’s debut satellite, Es’hail 1, is half owned by Paris-based Eutelsat.
For SES, the contract bolsters its plans to expand its presence in the Middle East. In mid-October, the company announced the opening of a Middle East office in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. While earlier this year, SES launched the inaugural SES Technical Academy, a knowledge transfer platform, in Dubai.
