When Qatar launched its first satellite independently on August 29, 2013, it was a result of a realisation of the importance of operating a satellite that satisfies the growing needs in the field of telecommunications and broadcasting.
Qatar’s journey with satellites began with the launch of es’hailsat 1 successfully from French Guiana, which established a new phase for the State of Qatar in enhancing its capabilities in the field operating satellites. This helped guarantee high quality for the country and the subscribers in es’hailsat 1.
The launch of a satellite is essential for Qatar in light of the country’s achievements in the field of media, whether Al Jazeera network or other Qatari channels. Also, the current developments which see the country subjected to one media campaign after another and blocking of its media outlets by siege countries requires having an independent satellite. Es’hailsat 1 began operation on December 18, 2013, on Qatar’s National Day. Bein Sport and Al Jazeera Network used the satellite to broadcast their services. They were followed by other channels such as Qatar TV, Al Arabi TV, Al Rayyan among others.
The satellite is owned by Qatar Satellite Company. The company has a strategy of owning and operating four satellites by 2022 and is planning to launch es’hailsat 2 in the near future. Head of the company’s sails department, Mohammed Waleed Al Sayed, told Qatar News Agency (QNA) the importance for the State to operate its own satellites. He also discussed the feasibility of space technology. He said that es’hailsat 1 was a qualitative leap for Qatar’s telecommunication sector, as it created a new market for telecommunication and broadcasting sectors. He also highlighted that independently operating a satellite helps boost the independence of the country in the field. It also facilitates creating new offerings in the media sector, such as introducing new channels and networks.
Al Sayed said that the company has more than one strategic partner in the Middle-East, North Africa, in addition to a number of European countries. He also revealed that the company has plans in place to increase its broadcasting services in the future.
The satellite provides high quality, premium DTH television content from the key 25.5 East broadcasting hotspot neighbourhood for customers. Having both Ku- and Ka-band capacity, Es’hailsat 1 provides the region with the most advanced and sophisticated services, including broadcast, telecommunications and broadband.
On the current developments and its potential impact on the performance of es’hailsat 1, Al Sayed said the company was committed to provide the best services without disruptions to the broadcasting. He said that the company has designed satellites that can limit signal distortion and jamming.
The Qatari company was established in 2010 with the goal of managing and developing Qatar’s presence in space. The company provides independent, high-quality, advanced satellite services to broadcasters, businesses and governments in the Mena region and beyond.
It took three years to build eshailsat-1 and launch it. The six-tonne high-powered SSL satellite has a design life of 15 years, Es’hailsat 1 has both Ku- and Ka-band payload, and is positioned at the key 25.5 degrees East location in geostationary orbit. As for eshailsat-2, it was manufactured by Japanese company Mitsubishi Electric Corporation. It is scheduled to launch from the US in 2018, in cooperation with American company Spacex.
The company is also concerned with developing national cadres in the space field. Four of the companies engineers graduated from a 24-month intensive programme on space administration from Space Systems/Loral, which manufactured the first Qatari satellite. In addition to that, there were other training programmes that aimed at developing the abilities of engineers operating s’hailsat 1. These programmes are also committed to developing the abilities of engineers working on the design of es’hailsat 2. The company also sent a number of Qatari students to study abroad in prestigious universities and gain an engineering degree in the field.
