[SatNews] Es’hailSat, the Qatar Satellite Company, and ARABSAT have signed a strategic partnership agreement to promote closer co-operation between the two companies and strengthen the reach and penetration of the 26 degrees East hot spot neighborhood for TV broadcasting.

Under the terms of the agreement, Es’hailSat will acquire the rights to 500MHz of premium Ku-band bandwidth at the 26.0 East TV broadcasting hot-spot. Es’hailSat’s second satellite, Es'hail 2, will use these frequencies and will be designed to provide DTH and other telecommunications services from the 26 degrees East hot spot. This will significantly increase Es'hailSat's capacity at the 25.5 / 26.0 East TV broadcasting hot-spot, and will strengthen Es'hailSat's in-orbit back-up capability when both Es’hail 1 and Es’hail 2 are operational. Furthermore, the arrangement between Es'hailSat and ARABSAT will pave the way for enhanced operational flexibility and mutual in-orbit back-up between the two satellite fleets.

The agreement was signed in Doha by Mr. Ali Al Kuwari, Es’hailSat’s CEO and Mr. Khalid Balkheyour, President & CEO of ARABSAT in the presence of HE Dr. Hessa Al Jaber, Minister of Information & Communication Technology (Qatar) and Fareed Khashoggi Chairman of the Board of Directors of ARABSAT.