Arabsat & Telesat Enter Into Agreement to Utilize a  Multi-mission Ku-band Payload on New Hellas-sat Satellite

6 March 2014

Arab Satellite Communication Organization (Arabsat) and Telesat Canada (Telesat) have signed a strategic commercial agreement under which Telesat will utilize a lifetime Ku-band payload on a the new satellite Hellas-sat-4.  The new satellite’s RFP is going to the market in March as part of Arabsat’s RFP for its 6^th generation satellites. The RFP will incorporate the design and manufacture of four new satellites. Hellas-sat-4 is expected to be launched in 2017 and will be located at 39 degrees East. Under the terms of the agreement, Telesat has acquired, on an exclusive basis, use of a high powered Ku-band payload providing coverage of Europe and the Mediterranean region. 

Telesat’s President and CEO, Dan Goldberg commented:  “Telesat has enjoyed a longstanding and strategic relationship with Arabsat and has the highest regard for its commercial and operational capabilities.  This latest agreement will provide Telesat with prime Ku-band capacity over Europe and the Mediterranean that complements well our existing in-orbit capacity. We are pleased to be able to partner with Arabsat on this initiative and to expand Telesat’s capabilities in this important region.”  

Arabsat CEO Khalid Balkhyour commented: “The upcoming RFP for Arabsat’s 6^th generation satellites reflects the company’s views on the exciting growth opportunities ahead of us and our commitment to capitalize on these opportunities. Hella-sat-4 will be a state of the art satellite with Ku and Ka-band missions. This commercial agreement with Telesat reflects the lasting cooperation between two leading satellite operators and will further establish Hellas-sat as a leading service provider in Europe.”