New Venue for HD and 3D +700 TV channels + Telecom Services + in orbit backup

Riyadh - Base Baykanour - Kazakhstan, June 4, 2010

BADR – 5, first satellite of Arabsat 5th generation was successfully launched this morning by ILS Proton / Breeze - M (Breeze M / Proton).

The Proton rocket lifted off at 4:00 am Baykanour local time  (1:00 am - Friday, June 4th  Mecca local time), carrying  BADR-5 satellite that was built on EADS Astrium’s E3000 platform with a Thales Alenia Space supplied communications payload. BADR-5 will be collocated with the BADR-4 and BADR-6 Direct-to-Home satellites at Arabsat 26 degrees East. BADR-5 will provide the highest level of service within the MENA region.

Khalid Balkheyour President & CEO of Arabsat has stated that we are thankful for the successful launch of Badr - 5, which will operate in the exclusive Hot Spot of Arabsat 26° degrees east.
He highlighted that BADR -5 will  provide capacities for more than 700 TV channels, HDTV, 3D, Telecom services including broadband in addition to providing a full in orbit backup for  Arabsat fleet.
 
Balkheyour added that on the 23rd of this month, Arabsat 5-A will be launched at its exclusive orbital position 30.5 degrees east, which covers the whole continent of Africa and large parts of  Asia as well as the MENA region fully and distinctly.