Qatar’s first ever independently operated satellite, Eshail 1, is slated to has launched
into space tonight at 11:30pm
Doha time, from the European Spaceport at Kourou in French Guiana.
The satellite was taken into space by Arianespace's rocket Ariane 5 during a launch that was broadcast live.
Now that Eshail 1
is in orbit (some 36,000 km in space), the
six-ton satellite’s position is expected to provide a wider and clearer range
for telecommunication services, officials have said.
Ehsail 1 will be managed by
Es’hailSat, an independent company which began as the Qatar Satellite Company
in 2010, when it was
established by ictQATAR to manage and develop Qatar’s presence in space.
According to a statement, CEO Ali Ahmed Al Kuwari said the
satellite’s name and its launch date have a special link:
“Es’hail is the name of a star which becomes visible in the night
sky in this part of the world around the end of August.
“Traditionally, the sighting of Es’hail marks the beginning of
most enjoyable weather conditions in the region and we are eagerly awaiting the
launch of Es’hail 1 — our new star over
Qatar.”
New services
He added that Eshail 1
should also improve TV, data and voice services across the Gulf, because it has
been built with "advanced anti-interference technology."
Speaking to the Middle East Monitor, he said:
"This new satellite will enable us to reach remote places
that ordinary internet lines can’t reach at the moment. We cannot say that we
will prevent interference completely, but we can guarantee reducing
interference to the lowest level."
The company has also previously stated that the satellite would
help meet the broadband and TV broadcast needs required to host the 2022 World Cup.
Meanwhile, Al Jazeera has been announced as a major Es’hailSat
customer. The Doha-based news channel hopes that the satellite will help it to
extend its reach around the world.
Arabsat deal
The launch of Qatar’s second satellite is also in the works, with Es’hailSat
announcing plans to have it up by 2016
to give back-up capacity to Eshail 1
and allow it to extend the range of services offered.
Eshail 1 navigates at 25.5 degrees east, and Eshail 2
will broadcast from 26 degrees east,
following a deal with KSA-based Arabsat.
This deal appears to bring to an end a long-running dispute over
the launch of Eshail 1,
which stemmed from accusations that it would compromise the signal of
Arabsat-operated Iranian network Zohreh-2,
which broadcasts from 26
degrees east.
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