ABS and Arab Satellite Communication Organization (ARABSAT) announced today that they have signed a strategic commercial agreement for a multi-transponder lifetime Ku-band payload on the new ABS-3A satellite planned for launch in late 2014/ early2015. This Ku-band payload deal will provide ARABSAT with additional growth opportunities to serve their customers over the Middle East and North Africa regions.
The ABS-3A satellite will be one of the world’s first all-electric propulsion satellites (a Boeing 702SP platform satellite) with nearly 8 kilowatts of EOL payload power and up to a total of 48 C and Ku-band transponders. It will be located at 3° West and will offer expanded capacity connecting the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Africa regions. Its wide C and Ku-band coverage will serve both sides of the Atlantic for trans-Atlantic as well as regional connectivity and services.
Khalid Balkheyour, President and CEO of ARABSAT said “We are very pleased with this payload agreement with ABS, and we hope it is the beginning of a long term successful partnership.” “ARABSAT has put in the market a Request for Proposals for 4 new satellites at different orbital locations, and yet, we continue to see rapid increase in customers’ demand on telecommunication and broadcasting services across the region, this agreement leverages ARABSAT capabilities to harness more growth opportunities over the coming three years,” Balkhyour added.
“ABS is very excited to collaborate with ARABSAT on this strategic transaction. The MENA beam of ABS-3A is the first time ABS has been able to provide a complete coverage of all of Middle East and North Africa. We are proud to announce ARABSAT as our strategic partner on this capacity which will serve the growing needs of their MENA customer base,” said Tom Choi, CEO of ABS.
About ABS:
ABS is a young, dynamic and fast growing global satellite operator. ABS offers a complete range of tailored solutions including broadcasting, data and telecommunication services to broadcasters, service providers, enterprises and government organizations.
ABS operates a fleet of six satellites; ABS-1A, ABS-3, ABS-4/Mobisat-1, ABS-6, ABS-7 and the recently launched ABS-2. The satellite fleet covers 80% of the world’s population across Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, CIS and Russia.
ABS has also procured two Boeing 702SP satellites (ABS-3A & ABS-2A) planned for launch in late 2014 and 2015 with the options to add more satellites over the next 2-3 years to its growing satellite fleet.
Headquartered in Bermuda, ABS has offices in the United States, Dubai, South Africa, Germany, Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong. ABS is majority owned by funds managed by the European Private Equity firm Permira. The Permira funds acquired ABS in 2010.
For more information, visit www.absatellite.com
About ARABSAT:
Founded in 1976, Arabsat has been serving the growing needs of the Arab world for over 30 years. Now one of the world’s top satellite operators and by far the leading satellite services provider in the Arab world, it carries over 500 TV channels, 200 radio stations, 2 Pay-TV networks and wide variety of HD channels reaching tens of millions of homes in more than 80 countries across the Middle East, Africa and Europe—including an audience of over 170 million viewers in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region alone tuned into Arabsat’s video “hotspot” at 26° East.
Operating a growing fleet of owned satellites at the 20° East, 26° East, 30.5° East, 39° East and 44.5° East positions of the geostationary orbit, ARABSAT is the only satellite operator in the MENA region offering the full spectrum of Broadcast, Telecommunications and Broadband services. This capacity will continue to expand with the launching of new satellites, making the ARABSAT satellites’ fleet the youngest in the region.
For further information please contact Saad Al Tehaif saadt@arabsat.com or visit our website www.arabsat.com
For more information, please visit www.arabsat.com
