Providing Satellite Services on Board Aircrafts

Taqnia Space & Arabsat sign an agreement for manufacturing 6-D Satellite

 

Taqnia Space, a subsidiary of  the Saudi Taqnia Holding for technological investment and Arab Satellite Communications Organization – Arabsat  have signed Today in the Headquarter of King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (“KACST”), a new satellite manufacturing agreement “6-D”.

The new satellite “6-D” will provide all Ka , Ku satellite telecommunication services, such as the internet, fixed and mobile TV broadcast services and all satellite services on board aircrafts.

His Highness Prince Dr / Turki bin Saud bin Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al - Saud , Chairman of  King AbdulAziz City for Science and Technology said that “اThe City and Taqnia Space work together to get the state of art technology in the field  satellite, taking advantage of all the potentials provided by KSA and the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques government in order to have a highly sophisticated and secured satellite telecommunication systems. To promote such an integrated approach, Taqnia Space is having a Strategic Partnership with Arabsat, the most prominent Satellite operators in KSA and the whole Region.

His Highness also stressed that "The participation of KACST specialists as a key partner with Taqnia Space in the technology, the research and the development  has  contributed effectively in having the most advanced technical specifications for this   satellite”.

Khalid bin Ahmed Balkheyour President & CEO of Arabsat has stated “Today’s agreement is the culmination of the strategic partnership between Arabsat, King AbdulAziz City for Science and Technology and Taqnia Space, which started with satellite SGS-1 on the orbital position 39⁰ East, scheduled to be launched early 2018, with estimated investments of more than 650 $ million for manufacture, launch and orbit tests for both satellites.

Abdullah Al - Osaimi CEO of Taqnia Space said “ This satellite comes as result of a development plan , started  years ago after 5-C  satellite and the First Saudi satellite  (SGS-1),planned to be launched in 2018 to meet the increasing demand on Satellite services, particularly the provision of internet services , voice calls and TV broadcast on board aircrafts, which will be applied  on board  “Saudi Airlines” aircrafts in early 2019 , to be the first airline in the Middle East to use the broadband service to provide such services for Passengers travelers on all classes.