The Al-Jazeera Media Network is now broadcasting on the Qatari satellite Es’hailSat 1, reaching the entire Middle East and North Africa region.
Al-Jazeera network now broadcasting via Qatari satellite
The Al-Jazeera Media Network is now broadcasting on the Qatari satellite Es’hailSat 1, reaching the entire Middle East and North Africa region.
Al-Jazeera plans to broadcast existing channels as well as new channel bundles using Es’hailSat 1 at 25.5 degrees east.
The Es’hailSat 1 satellite was designed with anti-jamming capabilities, according to Ali Ahmed Al Kuwari, CEO of Es’hailSat.
A second satellite, Es’hailSat 2, is currently under construction by Mitsubishi Electric, which won the bid against U.S. and European competition.
Es’hailSat 2 will be the first Qatar satellite fully owned by the company. Es’hailSat 1 is co-owned by the Paris-based EutelSat.
Mitsubishi Electric entered the satellite market in earnest with a two-satellite contract for the Turkish satellite operator Turksat.
Es’hailSat 2 is scheduled to launch in the fourth quarter of 2016 from SpaceX’s Launch Complex 40 at the Air Force Station at Cape Canaveral, Florida.
“Now a proven GTO launcher, SpaceX was able to meet our special technical requirements and most importantly to meet the time critical mission to launch Es’hail 2 at the end of 2016. Securing the launch of Es’hail 2 marks another key milestone in Qatar’s satellite program and we look forward to working with SpaceX on this important mission,” said Al Kuwari.
Es’hailSat 2 will be positioned at the 26 degrees East hotspot position to provide TV distribution and government services to strategic stakeholders and commercial customers.