Satellite and Broadcasting

SES announced that it has selected SpaceX as a launch partner to deliver the four newly-ordered O3b mPOWER spacecraft of its next-generation Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) communications system.

OSN and ITV Studios Middle East have announced a casting call for the Arabic version of TV Show Come Dine With Me which is set to have 45 episodes.

SES has selected SpaceX and United Launch Alliance (ULA) to launch satellites into orbit as part of the company’s C-band clearing plan, as well as their contribution to facilitate 5G across America.

Al Yah Satellite Communications Company (Yahsat), UAE-based global satellite operator, announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Andrew Cole as Chief Financial Officer (CFO). He will assume the position from 1 July onwards.

Iridium Communications Inc. (Iridium) has reported its financial results for the second quarter of 2020 which demonstrated a net loss of $12.4 million.

Thuraya, the mobile satellite services subsidiary of the UAE’s Al Yah Satellite Communications Company (Yahsat), has signed a partnership agreement with Telespazio, a joint venture between Leonardo (67%) and Thales (33%), to distribute its products and services worldwide.

Orange has purchased from Eutelsat Communications all available capacity on the EUTELSAT KONNECT satellite to cover the entire French territory. It will enable Orange’s consumer customer base, even those living in the most isolated areas, to benefit from very high-speed fixed broadband via satellite from January 2021.

stc and MBC GROUP, the leading telecom and media groups, announced the signing of a joint partnership to offer Shahid VIP, MBC’s premium subscription video on demand (SVOD) service, to stc customers for no additional cost for the duration of two months. This is in line with both companies’ continued mission to offer customers and audiences the best content from the region and beyond.

Millions of households across Africa, Europe, and Asia-Pacific will be able to access a free-to-air TV channel via SES satellites dedicated to delivering reliable, informative content about COVID-19. The channel — Fight COVID-19 — broadcasts content that is aimed at providing underserved and rural communities with critical information about how to limit the spread of the virus.

Thuraya, the Mobile Satellite Services (MSS) subsidiary of the UAE-based global satellite company, Yahsat, and SCOTTY Group, a developer of beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS) satellite communication solutions based in Austria, have announced that they have secured line-fit offerability for the Thuraya Aero mobile connectivity solution on Airbus H145 and H135 helicopters.