SmartSat, a UAE-based $500 million private joint venture specialising in the satellite industry, plans to introduce a range of services for the increasing number of media, telecom and Internet providers in the Mena region.

SmartSat, which recently launched a groundbreaking project that will send into orbit the region’s first private satellite  in 2011, considers the Mena a dynamic emerging satellite market as regional demand for transponder has risen 12 per cent annually in the last five years according to a study by Euroconsult and the London Satellite Exchange.

The study also shows that commercial satellite-lease revenues have reached $752 million in 2007, representing an average growth of 17 per cent annually since 2003.

"The Mena region offers unlimited growth potential for the satellite industry as a rapidly growing number of companies in the region such as internet service providers, GSM providers, broadband technology solutions providers and television stations are now taking full advantage of the groundbreaking capabilities being delivered by satellite technology,” said Khaled Derbas, chairman and managing director, SmartSat.

“Furthermore, being a private company, SmartSat enjoys greater flexibility in offering various innovative service packages, which enables us to address more specific client requirements and subsequently benefit a vast majority of consumers in the region," he added.

A significant growth indicator in the Mena satellite market is the increasing adoption of high-technology appliances and applications such as high definition television (HDTV), which has a direct impact on the growth of satellite-carried HDTV channels in the region.

Moreover, the Euroconsult and the London Satellite Exchange study also concluded that nearly 100 per cent of satellite transponders in the region are being used, revealing a steady upward trend in the satellite market.

Leveraging the new satellite’s state-of-the-art mobile communications systems, SmartSat will enable clients to tailor broadband packages that satisfy specific market segment demands and subsequently optimise revenue potential.

With the satellite’s powerful signals and two-way links, SmartSat can also support the Mena's satellite broadcasters, home satellite providers, news organisations, satellite conference centres and other content providers with regular programming or on-demand requirements, enabling high-definition viewing at home or for live, in-studio broadcasts.

Another strategic advantage of SmartSat, being a private entity, is its ability to offer a broader price range that is a lot more competitive and delivers greater product value. – TradeArabia News Service