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SatNews Daily reports that Saudi Arabia’s Taqnia Space and the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) have formed a joint venture with Skyware Technologies and Crescent Technologies to start manufacturing an innovative High-Throughput Satellite (HTS) Ka-band terminal to provide high throughput for satellites fleets around the world.
The JV will not only manufacture the terminals in Saudi Arabia, but will also market them to satellite service providers and operators in the Middle East, North Africa, and throughout the world. The JV is the culmination of longstanding relationships between the founders of Crescent Technologies, Bandar M. Al-Saud and Omar A. Talib, and Granahan McCourt Capital principal David McCourt, owner of Skyware Technologies.
From a broader perspective, the JV is part of a wider effort by Saudi Arabia to diversify its oil-dependent economy, outlined in its economic and social reform programme Vision 2030, launched on 25 April 2016 by the Kingdom’s Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
His Highness Dr. Turki bin Saud, President of KACST and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Taqnia, said of the new JV, “With the expected cooperation between the new joint venture and KACST as its technology partner, the Joint Venture and satellite RF manufacturing facility will help to propel the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to become a leader in advanced integrated terminal solutions.”
“With the contentious changes in satellite market dynamics and the increased demand for high-quality managed satellite services, it has become essential for satellite operators to build their organic engineering expertise that relates to service components and to have a better control on service cost,” said Eng. Abdullah Al-Osaimi, Chief Executive Officer of Taqnia Space.
David McCourt, Skyware Technologies founder and CEO, said, “Skyware Technologies has a reputation for developing sophisticated satellite terminals for government and military use and has considerable experience partnering with major international defense agencies, governments and leading industry bodies, including the European Space Agency.”
Crescent Technologies’ spokesperson, Abdullah Al-Bawardy, said, “[This agreement] sits within our core objective of bringing world-class partners together to create long- standing businesses in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”
