Arabsat signs two contracts for manufacturing and launching the first Satellite in its 6^th generation of satellites

19 January 2013

Arab Satellite Communications Organization (Arabsat) held a ceremony today in Riyadh under the patronage of HE the Saudi Minister of Culture and Information Prof. Abdul Aziz Bin Mohey Aldeen Khoga, attended by HE Minister of Telecommunications and Information Technology Eng.Mohamed Gamil Bin Ahmed Molla and HE the French Minister of Economic Regeneration Mr.Arnaud Montebourg in addition to the presence of a highly representatives of the private & governmental field of Telecommunications and Media and a numerous local and international press. 

 Arab Satellite Communications Organization (Arabsat) and the consortium of two companies Astrium and Thales Alenia Space and the company of Arianespace have signed 2 contracts for manufacturing and launching the first satellite in Arabsat 6^th generation of satellites Badr -7.

Eng.Khalid bin Ahmed Balkhyour President & CEO of Arabsat said that the contracts for manufacturing and launching Badr-7 that were signed today worth more than 400 million U.S $, and the new satellite Badr- 7 will be co-located at Arabsat exclusive Hot Spot 26°E with Arabsat other satellites known as BADR. Badr-7 will provide massive satellite capacities for television broadcasting, Telecommunications   and information exchanging services in ku-band in addition to the broadband services in ka-band. 

What is worth saying is that 6^th generation satellites are a quantum leap in terms of the manufacturing technology and the capabilities of these satellites.Badr-7 will be manufactured by the consortium of Astrium that will manufacture the   highly reliable Eurostar E3000 platform and Thales Alenia Space that will design and build the communications payload, while the Global company Arianespace will launch the Satellite. The new satellite will cover the Middle East, Africa, Asia and many parts of Europe.