RIYADH: The Riyadh-based Arab Satellite Communications Organization (Arabsat) yesterday signed contracts for manufacturing and launching of two new satellites at a total cost of $590 million. The contracts were signed with French EADS Astrium and Thales Alenia Space for manufacturing and with Arianespace for launching the two new communications satellites 5C and Badr 7.
“The satellites, with the designed life expectancy of 15 years, will be ready for launching in 2011 and 2012,” said Khalid A. Balkheyour, Arabsat president and chief executive officer, after signing the agreements at Riyadh’s Four Seasons Hotel.
Several Saudi officials and diplomats also attended the signing ceremony. Balkheyour said that these contracts come within the strategic plan of Arabsat that calls for launching a satellite every year until 2012.
“In the last two years, two satellites have been launched, Badr-4 and Badr-6, and two more satellites will be launched by the end of this year and in the beginning of the next year,” he said.
Founded by the Arab League, the Riyadh-based Arabsat has emerged as one of the world’s top satellite operators and by far the leading satellite services provider in the Arab world.
Spelling out the features of the two new satellites, the Arabsat chief said: “These two communications satellites will provide telecommunications and television broadcast services in the Middle East, North Africa, Europe and the Indian subcontinent.”
Founded in 1976, Arabsat is now ranked the world’s ninth-largest satellite operator.
