[SatNews] Es’hailSat, the Qatar Satellite Company, has announced that a Request for Proposals (RFP) has been issued for the design and manufacture of the company’s second satellite, Es’hail 2.

The new satellite will be positioned at the 26 degrees East hotspot position for TV broadcasting and significantly adds to the company’s ability to provide high quality, premium DTH television content across the Middle East and North Africa. Es’hail 2 will have Ku-band and Ka-band capabilities and will provide TV distribution and government services to strategic stakeholders and commercial customers who value broadcasting and communications independence, interference resilience, quality of service and wide geographical coverage. Moreover, Es’hail 2 will provide the first Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT) geostationary communication capability that links Brazil to India in one single hop and in real-time. It will allow also the AMSAT community to validate and demonstrate their DVB standard.  

Proposals for Es’hail 2 are due no later than April 30, 2014, and Es’hailSat will manage the tender and contract process which will be awarded through full and open competition.  Es’hail 2 is expected to be launched at the end of 2016.

Ali Al Kuwari, Chief Executive Officer of Es’hailSat, said, “With the success of our first satellite – Es’hail 1 – we are delighted to move forward with our satellite procurement program.  Es’hail 2 demonstrates both our commitment to providing premium satellite capacity for broadcasters in the MENA region and to building a sustainable satellite industry for the State of Qatar”.

Es’hailSat was established in 2010 and brings a new dimension to Qatar’s diversifying economy with the creation of a world-class satellite operator and center of excellence in the region.  The company’s satellite fleet will enable customers to substantially increase their broadcasting capability in HD and 3D and supports Qatar’s 2030 vision and commitment to meeting the sophisticated communications infrastructure the country is putting in place to host FIFA’s World Cup in 2022.

Es’hail 1, Qatar’s first satellite, entered commercial service on Qatar National Day,December 18, 2013.  Through its existing and planned satellites, Es’hailSat will broadcast diversified and high quality premium content with anti-jamming capabilities across the MENA region.  Al Jazeera and beIN Sport are already using Es’hail 1 capacity for high definition broadcasting of their premium channels.  

Paris St-Germain’s winter game vs. Real Madrid marked the start of operations of Es’hail 1, with the satellite broadcasting the football game live in HD from Doha across the Middle East and North Africa.  Es’hail 1 also provided the broadcast coverage of the recent Qatar Exxon Mobil Open Tennis tournament for the MENA region.

For further information, please visit the Es'hailSat infosite at http://www.eshailsat.qa/