Arabsat to Launch Second 6th generation satellite in Egypt by 2015

Arab Satellite Communications Satellite Communications Organization (Arabsat) is planning to launch the second satellite of the sixth generation satellite within 2015 with total cost reached $300 million.

Tarek Balkhyour, President and CEO of Arabsat revealed to Amwal Al Ghad that his company is intending to launch the first satellite of the sixth generation within 2014 with total cost up $300 million investments.

Balkhyour added that the first satellite of the sixth generation will cover Africa and part of Eastern Europe continent, pointing out that the total investments of Arabsat reached $1 billion.

The sixth generation services of KA Band focuses on telecommunication, internet sectors and military, educational and governmental facilities along with the next broadcast television coverage, this is a trend that is headed communications services around the world in the activation of broadband services.

Arabsat met Eng. Atef Helmy, the Egyptian Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Minister during Cairo ICT Exhibition to consider the cooperation with the company in the digital broadcasting field.

Balkhyour explained that Eng. Hesham Alayli CEO of National Telecommunication Regulatory Authority (NTRA), Mohamed Al-Nawawi CEO of Telecom Egypt (TE)(ETAL-CA), stressing that the meeting reviewed the cooperation with the ICT ministry and its affiliates.

It is worth mentioning that NTRA started its plan in transiting from the traditional broadcast “analog” to digital broadcasting.