Satcoms

ThorGroup’s Chairman and President, Dr. John B. Sheldon, explores the role of space in Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 recently announced economic and social reform programme. He argues that Vision 2030 is a golden opportunity for Saudi Arabian space. Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the son of King Salman and Deputy Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, …

Kratos Integral Systems Europe (ISE), a subsidiary of San Diego, California-based Kratos Defense and Security Solutions, Inc., successfully completed the critical design review (CDR) for the Sultanate of Oman’s Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) Advanced Space Radio Monitoring System. Oman’s TRA led the CDR supported by Kratos ISE personnel, and its …

Eutelsat, headquartered in Paris, France, has selected Israeli company Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. to provide technology to power its new satellite broadband services throughout Western Russia in July 2016. Using Gilat’s SkyEdge II-c hub with X-Architecture and SkyEdge II-c small user terminals, Eutelsat plans to deliver broadband services using the …

The social media app and website Telegram has deleted the channel used by Yemen’s Al-Masirah satellite television station, an entity thought to be affiliated with the Houthi’s, who are fighting the Saudi Arabian-backed coalition in Yemen. The action by Telegram took place over the weekend of 16-17 April 2016, and …

SES S.A., the Luxembourg-based commercial satellite communications provider, and Global Eagle Entertainment (GEE), announced on 19 April 2016 further agreements to provide Ku-band capacity to provide enhanced in-flight Internet connectivity for airline passengers in the Middle East and other parts of the world. Los Angeles, California-based GEE is a worldwide …

Spacecom, the Israeli commercial satellite communications provider that operates the fleet of AMOS satellites, is linking up with Encompass, the global technology services company dedicated to advancing innovation between broadcast and digital media industries, to build a new European TV distribution platform. The new service will be distributed throughout Europe, …

A senior US government official has announced that the United States should like to enter in to space security dialogues with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states in the coming months. Speaking at the 32nd Space Symposium in Colorado Springs, Colorado, on 14 April 2016, the US Assistant Secretary of …

With an imminent satellite deal with Egypt, France is set to become the satellite manufacturer of choice for Middle East countries. John B. Sheldon, Chairman and President of ThorGroup GmbH, analyzes the geopolitical implications of this important deal. French President Francois Hollande and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi are expected to …

Reports suggest that Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu is expected to announce the creation of the Turkish Space Agency within the next three months. The Turkish Space Agency will be located in the town of Kazan near the capital Ankara, and will be a joint responsibility of the Turkish military’s …

Qatari telecommunications company Ooredoo and the Arab Satellite Communications Organization – Arabsat – recently inked a deal pledging each other to cooperate on satellite communications across the Middle East. In particular, Ooredoo and Arabsat intend to develop new services and products for the rapidly growing Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) …