Es’hailSat at IBC2015,Showcasing the capabilities of Es’hail-1 and Es’hail-2, key broadcast transmission satellites for the MENA region

13 September, 2015

Es’hailSat, the Qatar Satellite Company, is exhibiting at the annual IBC exhibition in Amsterdam, the premier event for professionals engaged in the creation, management and delivery of entertainment and news content worldwide.  The company is showcasing Es’hail-1, currently transmitting high quality, premium DTH television content from the 25.5/26 degrees East neighborhood for leading channels such as Al Jazeera and beIN Sports, and Es’hail-2, the company’s second satellite scheduled for launch in Q4 2016. 

In addition to providing transmission for established news and sports channels, a growing number of new Arabic channels are choosing Es’hailSat to launch in the MENA region.  Both Qatari cultural channel Al Bidda and Al Araby Television Network, a London-based channel which aims to be a platform for Arab youth, talent, energy and aspirations, both recently launched HD channels exclusively on Es’hail-1. 

Es’hailSat is also pushing ahead with plans to expand its satellite fleet. Es’hail-2, a new high-performance satellite with sophisticated anti-jamming capabilities will be positioned at the 26 degrees East hotspot position for TV broadcasting, significantly adding to the company’s ability to provide high quality, premium DTH television content across the Middle East and North Africa.  Es’hail-2 is expected to launch at the end of 2016.  And discussions are already ongoing with customers and stakeholders to define the requirements for a further satellite - Es’hail-3

With a commitment to providing broadcasters with secure and independent satellite transmission, Es’hailSat has commissioned its own teleport.  A dedicated 50,000 m2 site north of Doha has been chosen for the new facility which will provide satellite TT&C and capacity management together with a wide range of teleport services such as uplink, downlink, contribution, multiplexing, encoding, playout and broadcasting.  The high-tech teleport will also provide back-up studios for TV channels and serve as a disaster recovery facility for broadcasters.  The site will be linked with key media broadcasters by a redundant, dedicated fibre optic link.

Ali Al Kuwari, Chief Executive Officer of Es’hailSat, commented: “We are delighted to be exhibiting once again at IBC.  We believe we have the optimum solution for broadcasters in the MENA region, not only in terms of technical capabilities and performance but also in terms of security of content.   IBC is an important occasion where Es’hailSat can confirm its position as key player for satellite communications in the region.  We see this exhibition as an important element in our strategy to attract customers who value broadcasting independence, quality of service and market penetration”.

Es’hailSat was established in 2010 and brings a new dimension to Qatar’s diversifying economy with the creation of a world-class satellite operator and center of excellence in the region.  The company’s satellite fleet will enable customers to substantially increase their broadcasting capability in HD and Ultra HD and supports Qatar’s 2030 vision and commitment to meeting the sophisticated communications infrastructure the country is putting in place to host FIFA’s World Cup in 2022.