Satellite News

Arabsat first disclosed their intentions at the conference industry in Dubai in December last year, but now it officially announced its plans to offer satellite broadband services in the MENA region. Arabsat satellite operator said the public service – branded Surf Ar @ b – the first time.

The cost of building the entire network of ground sparsely populated areas of the MENA region has left broadband forced to larger cities. Broadband can be picked up by a relatively small antenna 0.6 in any part of the service area. The proposed range area consists of 10 beams on the spot, five of the KSA, two in Iraq and one in Yemen, Jordan and Afghanistan.

For the past few years the backers of Arabsat and Nilesat have advocated an independent broadcasting regulator in the style of Ofcom or the FCC. An extraordinary meeting opened in Cairo on Jan 24 of the Arab League’s 22-member Information Ministers, and is addressing the problem.

Last month a US Congressional report stated bluntly that Arabsat and Nilesat should be considered “terror organisations” and that the satellite operators “incite violence” because of the contentious channels they carry.

We informed on Jan 3: “House law no. 2278, backed by Rep. Jesse Pelerakis and Democrat Joseph Crowley in May and passed by the House on December 8, urges the US administration to revise the nature of their relationship and assistance to states that provide satellite service for channels which are considered to incite violence against America.”

Now the Cairo meeting is urgently examining its options. Some two years ago Arabsat and Nilesat recommended the creation of a pan-regional Arab Media Commission, but not all of its member states backed the proposal. Qatar, home to Al Jazeera, was distinctly lukewarm on the suggestion.

On the pro side are political and economic heavyweights Egypt and Saudi Arabia while on the opposing camp is Lebanon’s Hezbollah-affiliated Al-Manar, which would likely be scrutinized by the new organization, as would Qatar-based Al-Jazeera.

The Arabic-language Al-Alam television network without prior notice air was taken off by the Saudi-run satellite operator Arabsat today.

The network had been temporarily off the air in November, when Arabsat and Cairo-based Nilesat dropped it without prior notification.

Several regional and international media and political activists slammed the move then, saying that the ban is in violation of freedom of expression.

Al-Alam officials say the removal is in violation of the satellite’s obligation to the network.

A statement released by Arabsat Operation Center (AOC) revealed an information that, the satellite is dealing with an “interfering” carrier on 11996 MHz frequency, which is targeting the Al-Alam network as well as a number of news channels.

“Since yesterday, instructions have been given to AOC to dual illuminate these channels on another Arabsat bouquet,” read the statement.

However, reports say the decision came after a meeting of Arab media ministers in Egypt.