Arabsat to launch new satellite by end of 2015 - deputy chairman

DOHA, May 7 (KUNA) -- The Arab Corporation for Space Communications (Arabsat) is hard at work to launch a new satellite, Bader 6, by the end of the year, Deputy Chairman Hameed Habib Al-Qattan has said.
In addition, the first quarter of 2018 will see the launch of another satellite, to be followed by a third one few months later, Al-Qattan, who is Undersecretary of the Kuwaiti Ministry of Communications, told KUNA on the sidelines of the 4th meeting of the Corporation's steering committee in Doha on Thursday.
The new satellites will offer broadband internet system for transferring data, which will bring about a boom in communications.
Al-Qattan stressed Arabsat's eagerness to keep pace with latest technological progress to offer subscribers the best services.
The satellite project is a leading one for the communications sector in Kuwait in terms of usage and financial and economic benefits, he said.
According to Al-Qattan, today's meeting also discussed the wages and incentive system at Arabsat.
Arabsat was founded in 1976 by the 21 members of the Arab League then, and has been serving the growing needs of the Arab World for over 30 years. Saudi Arabia is the biggest contributor in paid capital, about 36.6 percent, followed by Kuwait, 14.5 percent.
The steering committee includes seven members, five representing biggest contributors, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Libya, Qatar and the UAE, in addition to Board Chairman (Saudi) and his deputy (Kuwaiti). (end) nnd..msa