Bermuda – 3rd Nov 2015, ABS and Arab Satellite Communication Organization (Arabsat) announced that they have signed an expansion capacity agreement on ABS-3A for a multi-transponder, multiyear deal for Ku-band payload. The additional capacity will be used for different customer networks within the Middle East and North Africa regions in particular Saudi Arabia. Under the agreement, Arabsat will use the new bandwidth on ABS-3A at 3W, mostly for data services for enterprises, banking and government institutions.
ABS-3A, an all-electric propulsion satellite entered commercial service on 31st August. The satellite features 48 C and Ku-band transponders (96 x 36MHz equivalent) and is equipped with high performance beams to support rapidly growing markets in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Africa regions. ABS-3A provides expansion capacity to reach markets servicing high-growth data, video, mobility and government applications.
“We are very pleased to be collaborating again with Arabsat as a reliable valued partner in supporting their business growth in the MENA region. This new contract reiterates Arabsat’s confidence in ABS to support their business plan for this expanding market. We look forward to continually strengthening our relationship with Arabsat in the future,” said Tom Choi, CEO of ABS.
Khalid Balkheyour, President and CEO of ARABSAT said “We are very pleased to be working with ABS again and further build on our fruitful partnership. This agreement will enable ARABSAT to expand its customer base and provide more options and solutions.”
About ABS: ABS is one of the fastest growing global satellite operators in the world. 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 satellites; ABS-2, ABS-3A, ABS-4/Mobisat-1, ABS-6, ABS-7. The satellite fleet covers 80% of the world’s population across the Americas, Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, CIS and Russia. The new satellites: ABS-2A and ABS-8 are planned to launch in early 2016 and 2017/2018 respectively. ABS plans to add more satellites in the next 2-3 years to its growing fleet. Headquartered in Bermuda, ABS has offices in the United States, Dubai, South Africa, Germany, Philippines, Indonesia 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 almost 40 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, 160 radio stations, 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° E.
Operating a growing fleet of owned satellites at the 20° E, 26° E, 30.5° E and 34.5° E, 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 ARABSAT satellites’ fleet the youngest in the region.Arabsat also maintains strategic partnerships with most of the world’s leading satellite companies and VAS integrators and recently acquired Hellas Sat, one of the leading telecom groups in southeastern Europe.
