Riyadh, SAUDI ARABIA, 12 November, 2019 – Arab Satellite Communications Organization (ARABSAT) has today announced the signing of a contract between leading satellite service provider, Arabsat, Sudan-based VSAT service provider, Sudasat and global leader in IP-based satellite communications, ST Engineering iDirect. The agreement will see the installation of a Newtec Dialog® hub that will provide Internet services across Sudan on the Arabsat 6A Ka-band satellite, which was launched by a Falcon Heavy earlier this year and is dedicated to connecting the Middle East and African regions.
The latest Newtec Dialog hub to be installed in Africa will enable Sudasat to enhance its broadband connectivity across the Sudanese territory, with the prospect of connecting many hundreds of remote sites. It will also offer Sudasat the possibility to take advantage of Newtec Dialog’s multiservice capabilities in the future, enabling it to grow into other market segments such as mobility, cellular backhaul and broadcasting.
“This new installation further reinforces our strong partnership with Arabsat, which has been established over many years,” said Thomas Van den Driessche, President of the Executive Strategic Board and Chief Commercial Officer at ST Engineering iDirect. “We are proud to continue our work together, enabling Sudasat to introduce high-speed connectivity to Sudan and bringing connectivity to businesses and individuals as never before. We would also like to thank both Arabsat and Sudasat for their cooperation and support in bringing this deal to fruition. Our Africa and Middle East teams also deserve recognition for their close collaboration and interaction.”
Arabsat is the leading satellite service provider in the Arab World and has been serving the region with its telecommunications and broadcast services for over 40 years.
“We have seen the Newtec Dialog platform in action and we know that it is both reliable and scalable,” said Eng. Khalid Balkheyour, President & CEO at Arabsat. “These were key attributes that we were searching for in order to enable Sudasat to deliver the best quality experience to its customers. We look forward to serving Sudan and its neighbouring regions on Arabsat 6A.”
Sudasat’s employees will receive full training and certification on the Newtec Dialog platform following its installation and commissioning by the ST Engineering iDirect Team.
“We are delighted to be working with both Arabsat and ST Engineering iDirect to take our connectivity offering to the next level,” said Khalid Ehaimer, General Manager, Sudasat. “Our partnership with both companies is pivotal in enabling us to deliver our market strategy. We look forward to rolling out these services to Sudan and beyond and to extending our portfolio of services in the future, using the multiservice capability of Newtec Dialog.”
Newtec Dialog is a multiservice VSAT platform which enables operators to build and adapt satellite networking infrastructures according to specific needs. It provides a choice of three return technologies, including MF-TDMA, SCPC and the unique, dynamic Mx-DMA® which combines the best qualities of both to provide dynamic bandwidth allocation with the highest level of efficiency.
About Arabsat:
Arabsat was founded in 1976 by the then 21 members of the League of Arab States and has been working to meet the needs of the Arab world for more than 46 years, from its headquarters in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and two satellite control ground stations in Riyadh and Tunisia.
Arabsat is one of the leading satellite operators in the world. Also it is the leading satellite service provider in the Arab world, as it carries more than 650 television channels, 245 radio stations, paid TV networks, and a wide range of HD channels. It reaches tens of millions of homes in more than 100 countries in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and Central Asia. It is followed by more than 300 million viewers. Arabsat operates a fleet of state-of-the-art technology at 20 East, 26 East, 30.5 East, and 39 East in a fixed orbit around the Earth. Arabsat is also the only operator in the Middle East and North Africa region that provides a full spectrum of radio, television, telecommunications, and broadband services.
Arabsat operates a fleet of state-of-the-art technology at 20 East, 26 East, 30.5 East, and 39 East in a fixed orbit around the Earth. Arabsat is also the only operator in the Middle East and North Africa region that provides a full spectrum of radio, television, telecommunications, and broadband services.
In addition to that Arabsat maintains a strategic partnership with most of the world’s leading satellite and value-added companies, with Arabsat acquiring Hella Sat, which is one of the leading satellite communications groups in Southeast Europe. These partnerships and acquisitions give Arabsat access to new orbital location rights and frequencies, and wider coverage allowing customers to offer content and technical solutions to viewers or partners around the world.