Egyptian satellite for air navigation in Africa

"Studies on launching an Egyptian satellite for air navigation in Africa and the Middle East will be completed by the end of the current month," Egypt's Information Technology Company chairman Maged El-Masri said Monday.

Masri said he recently visited Paris to review the relevant studies conducted by French experts. The company is a subsidiary of EgyptAir Holding Company.

Plans were in place for launching the satellite in 2008, said el-Masri, noting that the satellite would serve navigational purposes and communications on board planes flying over Africa and the Middle East.

It will facilitate contacts via the Internet on board planes, el-Masri said.