Space Communication Technologies (SCT), Oman’s national satellite operator, has awarded Airbus Defence and Space a contract for OmanSat-1, a state-of-the-art, fully reconfigurable, high-throughput OneSat telecommunications satellite, including the associated system. SCT is the leading centre of Oman’s National Satellite Programme for the development of a satellite communications infrastructure for both the public and private sectors.
The fully digital, in-orbit reconfigurable OmanSat-1 will provide high Ka-band capacity primarily over Oman, including its economic waters, as well as across the Middle East, East Africa and Asia. For SCT, the fully reconfigurable design will enable it to meet customer needs for high-throughput services, including government and private networks, oil and gas, banking, broadband, maritime and aeronautical connectivity. SCT aims to become one of the key players in these markets.
Airbus will provide a fully integrated end-to-end solution, including the design and manufacture of the satellite, high-performance ground segment software components and the satellite launch service. This is the 10th satellite contracted for Airbus’ OneSat product line.
“We value the partnership with Airbus Defence and Space, and Space Communication Technologies Company is playing an important, critical national role as the national operator and executing agency for this project. This partnership ensures the highest levels of efficiency, facilitates knowledge sharing and strengthens national capabilities in this vital sector,” said His Excellency Engineer Said Bin Hamoud Almaawali, Minister of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, Sultanate of Oman.
“It is an honour to sign such a contract, which will ultimately place the Sultanate of Oman’s name in space as one of the regional players for satellite operators. Our selection of OneSat, manufactured by Airbus, means that SCT will operate the latest software-defined satellite with full flexibility and high throughput in the Ka-band. We will also offer competitive services to most verticals in the target markets and will have the ability to access new markets due to the flexibility in beam shaping,” said Eng. Salim Al Alawi, CEO of SCT.
“We are very pleased to have signed this contract to provide Oman with world-leading, fully flexible telecommunications capabilities through its first geostationary satellite. We will work hand in hand with Oman’s Space Communication Technologies to help them implement their national satellite programme and develop their sovereign capabilities to serve their future customers,” said Alain Fauré, Head of Space Systems at Airbus.
Airbus’ OneSats can be fully reconfigured while in orbit and are capable of adjusting their coverage, capacity and frequency ‘on the fly’ to meet evolving mission scenarios. The programme line is based on Airbus’ highly reliable Eurostar geostationary telecommunications satellite and the company’s constellation expertise with OneWeb. The development of the OneSat programme is supported by ESA, the French space agency (CNES), the British space agency, the German space agency (DLR) and the Spanish space agency (AEE).
About SCT
Space Communications Technologies is a state-owned company belonging to the ITHCA group and operating under the umbrella of the Oman Investment Authority (OIA). The company has been tasked with carrying out the necessary procedures for the implementation of the Omani satellite project (OmanSat-1), including all technical, operational and contractual work related to this project, in order to meet the Sultanate’s requirements for satellite telecommunications services. The company’s vision is to become one of the leading regional satellite operators and to offer solutions that are robust, integrated and secure.
