From the Middle East comes the birth of a new $500 million privately held satellite operator, SmartSat which embarked on a joint venture with Smartlink, a global broadband satellite service provider that is a private Jordanian shareholding company. This will be the MENA region's first private company that specializes in the satellite industry which will be headquartered in Dubai Studio City. Khaled Derbas, Chairman and Managing Director, SmartSat

SmartSet will begin its job by launching the Arab world's first private satellite that serves the MENA region. Smartlink, known for their satellite services in Eastern Europe, Middle East and North Africa, will work with a Kuwaiti investment holding company that will be the financial advisor for the project. Once all is up and running SmartSat's services will provide the development of services for the area's Internet service providers, GSM providers, broadband technology solutions providers, TV stations, ministries of communication, military agencies and companies that manage data systems.