HAMMAMET — The Arab Satellite Communications Organization (ARABSAT) and Qatar Satellite Company Es’hailSat have signed a strategic partnership agreement on the sidelines of the Arab Radio and Television Festival (ASBU Festival) in Hammamet, Tunisia, establishing a comprehensive long term framework to expand joint operational initiatives across satellite television broadcasting and telecommunications infrastructure.
A central pillar of the bilateral agreement focuses on consolidating the 26 degrees East orbital location as the premier satellite broadcasting neighborhood across the Middle East and North Africa. By jointly onboarding additional television channels and broadening regional content diversity at this shared orbital hotspot, both satellite operators aim to elevate the viewer experience while accelerating commercial growth across the regional media and entertainment ecosystem.
Beyond direct to home television distribution, the alliance deepens technical and commercial collaboration across enterprise satellite communications, Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) networks, and broadband connectivity solutions. Both space operators will jointly evaluate and deploy emerging satellite technologies designed to optimize transmission efficiency, link reliability, and service quality, providing enterprise, government, and telecommunications clients with unified communications architectures. Furthermore, ARABSAT and Es’hailSat will expand joint operations supporting the Unified Arab Bouquet, leveraging their combined international satellite footprints to distribute Arab broadcast channels to global diaspora audiences well beyond the Middle East and North Africa region.
Dr. Badr N. Alsuwaidan, Chief Executive Officer of ARABSAT, stated that the partnership strengthens strategic integration with Es’hailSat and directly advances the evolution of the regional broadcasting and satellite communications landscape. Dr. Alsuwaidan noted that reinforcing the 26 degrees East orbital slot while expanding collaboration across satellite connectivity and the global distribution of Arab media establishes a resilient foundation for joint innovation that keeps pace with rapid transformations across the global space economy.
Ali bin Ahmed Al Kuwari, President and Chief Executive Officer of Es’hailSat, emphasized that the agreement represents a major milestone in cross sector cooperation by combining the technical capabilities and orbital assets of both satellite pioneers. Al Kuwari affirmed that enriching the 26 degrees East orbital position and broadening joint VSAT and broadcast offerings will deliver more agile, advanced solutions to enterprise and media customers while strengthening the Arab region’s competitive standing across the international space and telecommunications industries.
