Qatar’s Es’hailSat has announced that it’s Es’hail-2 satellite will now be launched in the third quarter of 2017 rather than in December 2016 as originally planned. There has been no word as to why the launch date for Es’hail-2 has slipped by at least six months. Es’hail-2 will be launched …

Nakilat, the shipping arm of Qatar’s liquefied natural gas sector, has entered into a contract with Global Eagle Entertainment Inc.’s Emerging Markets Communications (EMC) service line to provide marine very-small aperture terminal (VSAT) services for vessels in its fleet of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) carriers. …

The attempted coup by elements of the Turkish military on 15 July 2016 has more than just interrupted the daily rhythms of Turkish politics – it has completely upended the political order as President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his Justice and Development Party (AKP) consolidate power by ruthlessly pursuing their …

The Syrian Civil War continues unabated, as does its human suffering. Satellite technologies play an important role in monitoring the Syrian conflict and are used by humanitarian agencies to try and help those who are suffering the most. Theras Wood of Canadian Earth observation company UrtheCast provides an account of …

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani appointed three new members to the Supreme Council of Space – the supreme space policy-making body in Iran – on 14 August 2016. The three individuals appointed to the Supreme Council of Space are Elham Aminzadeh, Mostafa Safavi-Homami and Hassan Shafti. Each appointment lasts for four …

Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd., the Israeli provider of satellite networking technology, solutions and services, announced on 8 August 2016 that Avanti Communications Group plc has selected Gilat’s one-platform multiple-application X-Architecture and its mobile-edge computing (MEC) enabled Capricorn very small aperture terminal (VSAT). The announcement relates to Avanti’s contract to supply …

  Panasonic Avionics and Yahsat announced on 10 August 2016 the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to explore new ways to offer a broadband connectivity solution serving several mobility markets in the Middle East within the next three to five years. In addition, while final terms are still …

Leading mobile satellite services (MSS) operator Thuraya Telecommunications has signed an agreement with VNPT VinaPhone making its land and maritime handsets available to the Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group (VNPT). Thuraya’s first service agreement in Vietnam is helping VNPT VinaPhone establish satellite services, which was marked by a ceremony attended …

On 8 August 2016 global technology leader Lockheed Martin, the UAE Space Agency and Mubadala launched a space-based workforce training programme to develop emerging leaders in the UAE space industry. Generation Space: The Space Fundamentals Training Program for early career professionals across the UAE aerospace industry will run for the …

With the regular occurrence of satellite jamming in the Middle East, scientists at the Germany space agency – DLR – seem to have come up with one solution that might mitigate the worst effects of this phenomenon. Ships can be led astray with fake GPS signals. If signals for navigation …