Nilesat orders new comms satellite
December 4, 2019
By Chris Forrester
Nilesat has ordered a new satellite (Nilesat 301) from Thales Alenia Space. The contract covers both the launch of the craft as well as the build.
The contract says that Nilesat 301 will be launched in January 2022 to take over from Nilesat 201 which will reach the end of its working life in 2028, the company said in a statement to the Egyptian Exchange (EGX).
The new satellite will take some 25 months to be built at Thales Alenia Space’s headquarters in Cannes, France and will have an expected life time of 15 years.
Nilesat chairman Ahmed Anis, in comments made at the signing ceremony said: “Thales Elena Space was chosen to take over the manufacturing of Nilesat 301, after four foreign companies submitted their bids during the period specified for that tender, and these offers were subjected to a lengthy examination and discussion among the members of the selection of the manufacturer according to the technical conditions set by the global consultant Nilesat to determine the latest specifications reached by satellites in the world to keep pace with the development in this area, and compete with all the international companies working in the field of launching and broadcasting television channels.”
During the first half of 2019, Nilesat reported a net profit of $23.81 million, compared to $27.12 million in H1 2018.
Nilesat’s first satellite, Nilesat 101, manufactured by the European company, Matra Marconi Space, was launched in 1998 by an Ariane 4 rocket from Kourou, French Guiana, and decommissioned on February 2013 at the end of its lifespan of 12 years.