ARABSAT prepares to launch new satellite

The ARABSAT company for communications affiliated to the Arab League is preparing to launch a new satellite at the end of the current month, ARABSAT 3A from French Guinea, and it will be established at the same location as ARABSAT II A at 26 degrees east, and it will enable the new satellite to provide its services to the Middle East and Europe.

An official in ARABSAT said the new satellite aims at upgrading television broadcasts in the region, as the satellite will carry 20 television channels.

ARABSAT 3A will also provide telephone, fax and data transmission services, according to Alcatel, which is the prime contractor for the project.

The region is currently witnessing competition in the investment field in satellites where Egypt launched its private satellite, NileSat 101 and is getting ready to launch NileSat 102 at the end of the coming year while the United Arab Emirates is preparing to launch its first satellite, El-Terya, within three years.

Alcatel says that ARABSAT 3A will be guaranteed to continue complete preformance for 12 years and maneuverability for 15 years. Should the satellite's launch be unsucessful, ARABSAT can ask Alcatel to deliver a replacement within 10 months. If the satellite is launched successfully, ARABSAT has the option of quickly developing a second satellite.