Satellite Networks

Arabsat picks ACTIA gateway systems to support ARABSAT-7A

Arabsat picks ACTIA gateway systems to support ARABSAT-7A

Saudi Arabia-based Arabsat says it has selected French firm ACTIA Aerospace to design, supply and deploy a new generation ofQ/V-Band RF gateway systems that will form a critical part of the ground segment for its upcoming ARABSAT-7A software-defined satellite.

Under the deal signed on the sidelines of the Arabsat 17th Telecom Forum in Bahrain on Tuesday, ACTIA will supply two fully integrated and geographically diverse gateways, providing enhanced resilience, higher capacity and flexible routing. The gateway solution includes system design, deployment, testing, commissioning, operator training and long-term technical support.

Arabsat said the gateways will support a wide range of broadband managed services, enterprise, mobility, maritime, aviation, and government applications across its coverage region.

Arabsat president and CEO Dr. Badr N. Alsuwaidan said the gateway infrastructure represents a cornerstone of its roadmap to transition from traditional geostationary architectures toward software-defined, satellite systems, enabling dynamic service allocation, optimized spectrum usage and scalable customer solutions.

“Through state-of-the-art technologies and advanced broadband managed services, ARABSAT-7A represents a major step in our evolution toward software-defined and high-throughput satellite systems,” he said in a statement. “The deployment of Q/V-Band gateways is fundamental to this vision, enabling us to deliver more agile, scalable and resilient services that meet the rapidly growing demands of digital connectivity across our markets.”

ACTIA CEO François Contou-Carrere said its Q/V-Band gateway solution “supports Arabsat’s transformation toward flexible software-defined GEO architectures and enables innovative satellite services across the MENA region and beyond.”

Arabsat contracted Thales Alenia Space in 2022 to build ARABSAT 7A based on Thales’ Space Inspire (INstant SPace In-orbit REconfiguration) platform. No official launch date has been confirmed.



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