Arabsat confirms Saudi satellite build for 6D
March 6, 2017
By Chris Forrester
Saudi Arabia’s Taqnia Space, a subsidiary of the Saudi Taqnia Holding for technological investment, and Arabsat have signed a satellite manufacturing agreement to cover their new Arabsat 6D craft. The agreement was signed March 2nd at a ceremony at the King Abdulaziz City for Science & Technology, in Saudi Arabia.
The satellite will go to 44.5 degrees East. The satellite is co-owned by Arabsat by the King Abdulaziz City.
The new ARABSAT 6D satellite will provide all Ka and Ku satellite telecommunication services, such as internet, fixed and mobile TV broadcasting, and other satellite services on board aircraft.
Prince Dr. Turki bin Saud bin Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, Chairman of King AbdulAziz City for Science and Technology said that, “The City and Taqnia Space work together to get the state of art technology in the satellite field, taking advantage of all the potential provided by KSA and the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques government in order to have a highly sophisticated and secure satellite telecommunication systems. To promote such an integrated approach, Taqnia Space is entering into a strategic partnership with Arabsat, the most prominent satellite operator in KSA and the whole region.”
Khalid bin Ahmed Balkheyour, President/CEO at Arabsat added: “Today’s agreement is the culmination of the strategic partnership between Arabsat, King AbdulAziz City for Science and Technology, and Taqnia Space, which started with satellite SGS-1 on the orbital position 39⁰ East, scheduled to be launched in early 2018, with estimated investments of more than $650 million for the manufacture, launch and orbital tests for both satellites.”