Es’hailSat contributing towards Qatar’s National Vision 2030
Ali Al Kuwari, Es’hailSat’s President & CEO, speaks to Teletimes
Khalid Athar: What are the core values that drive Es’hailSat, and how do they influence your company culture?
Ali Al Kuwari: Es’hailSat, the Qatar Satellite Company, headquartered in Doha, Qatar, is the national satellite operator for the state of Qatar and a prominent player in the satellite industry. Established in 2010, the company has been at the forefront of managing and developing Qatar’s space presence, leveraging cutting-edge innovations to provide advanced satellite services globally. With a vision of becoming a truly global satellite operator and service provider, Es’hailSat has embraced modern advancements in the industry. This drives a culture of innovation, self-reliance, and sustainable development within the organization.
Es’hailSat’s core values of integrity, innovation, and inspiration are reflected in our company’s culture. Our values are the core of everything we do as a company. They direct and dictate our brand, our behaviors and our business decisions. Most importantly, our values represent our relationships with our audience, i.e. our stakeholders, our vendors, customers and prospects. First and foremost, integrity as a value brings about honesty, transparency and accountability in everything we do. Thereafter, the mindset of innovation brings in the culture of never settling, always searching and finding new ways to improve our products and services. Finally, in letting our ambition lead the way for others to follow we stay true to the inspiration culture in our company.
Established in 2010, the company has been at the forefront of managing and developing Qatar’s space presence, leveraging cutting-edge innovations to provide advanced satellite services globally.
KA: How do you see Es’hailSat contributing to Qatar’s National Vision 2030?
AK: Es’hailSat’s satellites are a symbol of Qatar’s commitment to free, secure, and independent communication and events such as the AFC, FIFA World Cup and others are the perfect opportunity for us to showcase our capabilities. We are working on multiple long-term projects to fulfil the company’s vision of being a world class satellite operator and service provider that effectively contributes to the success of Qatar’s National Vision 2030. Our plans are to continually upgrade our capabilities in terms of our teleport, ground segment and managed services to be able to leverage our young fleet in orbit today.
Qatar’s National Vision 2030 relies on the four pillars of development across Human, Social, Economic and Environmental aspects. Es’hailSat continues to engage with educational institutions across Qatar, at various levels ranging from schools to universities, in order to share the knowledge that we have garnered and develop the next generation of engineering, science & technology professionals. Our Es’hail-2 satellite continues to cater to the needs of the Qatar Amateur Radio Society and the Amateur Radio community at large with the world’s first geostationary payload supporting this kind of radio communications that is critical during times of calamities and natural disasters, when all other communication methods are impacted.
KA: What are the most significant trends you’re observing in the satellite and telecommunications industry today?
AK: Some of the key enabling technologies for satellite broadcasting today are those that enable content creators to get their libraries out to viewers in the form of channels and streams in the fastest and most cost competitive manner. Further to this objective, Es’hailSat has recently launched its Playout & Media Services offering which combines the long-standing legacy of Es’hailSat’s satellite distribution and contribution platforms, together with the most advanced Playout solutions that enable TV channels to be deployed, rapidly from a one-stop-shop solution thus providing peace of mind to the content creators with maximum audience reach.
We also observe that the global satellite industry is in a state of flux with multiple non-GEO constellations at various stages of their development and launch, many of them looking to provide global broadband connectivity. LEO systems are relatively young and unproven which makes the recent gold rush of announcing constellations a trend that we believe needs to be approached with cautious optimism. A lot needs to be done before these systems become integrated into the 5G eco-system and the sheer volume of capital & technology advancements required make it an uphill climb for the companies involved. We bring our strengths of having worked with 4G and 5G networks across MENA to the table and that is our value addition. This is especially true when it comes to backhauling mobile services requiring high throughput services.
KA: How is Es’hailSat adapting to the rapidly changing technological landscape of satellite communication?
AK: We are very much a GEO operator and will continue to support our broadcast, telecommunications and government customers with our two satellites in GEO orbit. At this point, the global satellite industry is in a state of flux, with multiple low-Earth orbit constellations at various stages of their launch, each looking to provide global broadband connectivity. We are studying each of these projects closely and evaluating all possible options to enhance our future capabilities as a satellite operator.
We are also working on incorporating into our portfolio the latest advancements in technology, including Cloud services, IoT and Telecommunications services, and tailoring these to the needs of verticals such as Maritime, Government and Energy.
Wherever terrestrial connectivity options stop is where the role of satellite technologies begins, and that is where Es’hailSat’s services come in. Be it cellular backhaul, VSAT networking or even consumer broadband, we have the capabilities to support those companies that are looking to provide these services across the Middle East and North Africa today and across the globe very soon. We are also working on incorporating into our portfolio the latest advancements in technology, including Cloud services, IoT and Telecommunications services, and tailoring these to the needs of verticals such as Maritime, Government and Energy.
KA: With increasing competition in the satellite industry, what strategies does Es’hailSat employ to maintain and grow its market share?
AK: At an average fleet age under 6 years, we at Es’hailSat have one of the youngest fleets of any satellite operator in the Middle East and North Africa region. Our existing satellites, Es’hail-1 and Es’hail-2 co-located at 25.5 East and 26 East, are well positioned to serve the needs of broadcast and telecom customers across the board. Coupled with our 50,000sqm state-of-the-art Teleport facility in Doha they provide the infrastructure needed for any broadcaster, telco, enterprise or government customer to deliver their services and for us to cater to their growing needs. Our plans are to continually upgrade our capabilities in terms of our teleport, ground segment and managed services to be able to leverage our young fleet in orbit today.
Over the course of 2023, we have added more than 20 new TV channels to our video hotspot across the two satellites. This itself is a testament to the fact that customers trust us with their TV channel bouquets and our market share is secured as a result. Furthermore, we have launched Playout and Media services to deliver a simple, elegant and one-stop solution to broadcasters that want peace of mind in their operations. Lastly, via partnerships such as the recent MoU with Nilesat and even before that, by tying up with companies such as Total Media Cast (TMC) and others, we are able to serve our customers in regions that are beyond our home country, as well as with services that would organically have taken many years for any company to put together.
KA: How does Es’hailSat ensure the reliability and security of its satellite services, especially in an era of increasing cyber threats?
AK: Es’hailSat has been providing MENA’s Government and Enterprise customers with end-to-end satellite services for over a decade. These include fully encrypted, secure, fixed & mobile communications, anti-jamming capabilities as well as robust & reliable broadcasting services catering to audiences across the Middle East and North Africa. The security and independence of services provided by Es’hailSat helped broadcasters stay on-air even during diplomatic and financial pressures and boycotts. This also helps VIPs and state agencies to remain connected securely both within Qatar and within the region.
KA: What role do sustainability and environmental considerations play in your operations and long-term planning?
AK: Es’hailSat’s teleport facilities are built using state-of-the-art and environmentally responsible materials that ensure that the impact on the environment around the teleport is minimized. When it comes to future satellites and spacecraft technology, the trend is towards the use of electric propulsion which is significantly more environmentally friendly. Together with our satellite manufacturing partners we are exploring the use of this technology for our future satellite missions. Furthermore, Environmental and Governance best practices are part of our company’s long-term strategy and going forward these initiatives will only become increasingly important in order to build a sustainable long term business.
KA: Looking ahead, what new markets or services is Es’hailSat exploring?
AK: Africa and Central Europe have tremendous potential for expanding broadcasting, content distribution and connectivity services given the unique challenges faced by the two regions. Es’hailSat continues to cater to multiple TV channels across North Africa from Morocco in the west to Ethiopia in the East at our MENA hotspot of 25.5/26 degrees East. While fiber continues to reach the shores of various countries in Africa, getting the same connectivity inland and overcoming the challenges on-the-ground is a different story altogether. As with every company looking to do business in either Central Europe or Africa, it is important for us to find the right partners who can enable our services in the local markets. These economies are at various stages of growth, each with their unique challenges and we are always looking for the right partner with local insight with whom we can grow our offerings to the end customer. With state-of-the-art services across sectors such as Television Broadcasting, Enterprise VSAT and Broadband Connectivity as well as services such as those for Maritime & Energy sectors, we are gearing up to cater to the needs of these markets today and in the future.
With state-of-the-art services across sectors such as Television Broadcasting, Enterprise VSAT and Broadband Connectivity as well as services such as those for Maritime & Energy sectors, we are gearing up to cater to the needs of these markets today and in the future.
KA: How is Es’hailSat investing in innovation to meet future demands in satellite communications?
AK: The world is heading towards economies driven by artificial intelligence, neural networks, and the Internet of Things, all of which can only be enabled by robust telecommunications and IT infrastructure. Therefore, it is critical for these sectors, including satellite services, to build a culture of innovation and continuous development to be able to cater to these demands. With Qatar becoming a powerhouse of talent and technological prowess in the Middle East, advanced satellite services will help ensure that the economy of the country has the tools that it needs to grow from strength to strength. For Es’hailSat’s business, the priority over the next 12 months is expanding services to support the rapid growth of Qatari customers across the board. The sky is the limit for Qatar’s ambitions, and Es’hailSat remains the first choice for companies across the MENA region wherever there is a need for connectivity over satellite.
KA: Can you share insights into any upcoming projects or partnerships that are particularly exciting for Es’hailSat?
AK: Some of the key enabling technologies for satellite broadcasting today are those that enable content creators to get their libraries out to viewers in the form of channels and streams in the fastest and most cost competitive manner. Further to this objective, Es’hailSat has recently launched its Playout & Media Services offering which combines the long-standing legacy of Es’hailSat’s satellite distribution and contribution platforms, together with the most advanced Playout solutions that enable TV channels to be deployed, rapidly from a one-stop-shop solution thus providing peace of mind to the content creators with maximum audience reach. We have multiple partnerships, such as those for optical ground stations, terminals and flat panel antennas, Inmarsat for MSS services and with technology providers, such as iDirect, Comtech etc., for enhancing our end-to-end service provisioning, etc. We also have sales partners such as AXESS, TMC and others and channel partners in various geographies that help expand our presence across the MENA region. As Qatar’s satellite operator of choice, we bring tremendous value to any partnership and can provide the local and regional expertise that these global companies need to build a sustainable business in the region. Since our inception in 2010, Es’hailSat has leveraged industry-wide partnerships to bring the best of what is available globally to MENA’s ICT infrastructure.
