Satellite-based systems designer Thales Alenia Space has signed a contract with the Egyptian operator Nilesat to build the Nilesat-301 geostationary communications satellite.
Positioned at 7° West, Nilesat-301 will work with Nilesat-201, a communications satellite launched in 2010, to provide Ku-band services for the Middle East and North Africa. Nilesat-301 will also help extend the company’s provision of Ku-band communications and direct digital broadcasting services in two new large regions of Africa, while providing broadband Ka-band connectivity over all of Egypt.
As prime contractor, Thales Alenia Space will be responsible for satellite design, production, testing and in-orbit acceptance tests. Thales Alenia Space will also provide satellite control systems for Nilesat in both Cairo and Alexandria.
The satellite is based on the Spacebus 4000-B2 platform and will weigh about 4 metric tons at launch, which is scheduled for the first quarter of 2022. It offers a design life exceeding 15 years.
Following Nilesat-201, Nilesat-301 is the second geostationary communications satellite built by Thales Alenia Space for Nilesat. It is also the fourth payload developed by Thales Alenia Space for the Egyptian operator.
Thales Alenia Space, a joint venture between Thales (67 percent) and Leonardo (33 percent), an Italian multinational company specialising in aerospace, defence and security, delivers solutions for telecommunications, navigation, Earth observation, environmental management, exploration, science and orbital infrastructures.
