Latest news with #Arabsat
L'Orient-Le Jour
06-08-2025
- Business
- L'Orient-Le Jour
Cash declaration at the border, Internet, appointments: Other decisions made at the latest Cabinet meeting
The disarmament of Hezbollah was not the only explosive issue on the agenda at Tuesday's Cabinet meeting in Baabda, on which the government took a step forward. The government also approved two draft laws amending existing legislation, seen as critical for trying to convince the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) — the leading global anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing body — to remove Lebanon from its gray list. The first project, which is considered urgent, seeks to increase the penalties for those who do not declare the sums of money in their possession when crossing Lebanese borders. This is an amendment to Law No. 42/2015 concerning the cross-border transport of cash. The law requires anyone physically transporting money, when entering or leaving the country, to declare it to customs if the amount exceeds $15,000, subject to fines, among other penalties. The second project strengthens the provisions of Law No. 44/2015 "in order to ensure better compliance with international standards," according to the decision's statement. Both projects now must go before Parliament. According to a government source, they were prepared under the direction of Finance Minister Yassine Jaber, Economy Minister Amer Bsat and Central Bank (BDL) Governor Karim Souhaid. The adoption of the two laws in 2015 allowed Lebanon to be removed in 2016 from the FATF's gray list, where it had been placed six years earlier. However, during the most recent evaluations conducted from 2022 to 2024, the country was put back on the list. Internet discussion postponed until next week The government was also supposed to review the report of Telecommunications Minister Charles Hage on ongoing negotiations between Lebanon and three satellite internet service providers: Starlink, Eutelsat and Arabsat. The issue was ultimately postponed until next week. The minister said that Starlink, the network operated by SpaceX and owned by billionaire Elon Musk, meets all the conditions set by Lebanon, including those of the security forces and the justice ministry's consulting and legislation committee, to obtain a license from Lebanese authorities. The parliamentary telecoms committee is scheduled to examine the Starlink case and that of illegal internet providers on Wednesday. The ministry was also to report on the status of negotiations with the two other companies, Eutelsat and Arabsat. Both operate smaller satellite fleets than Starlink but have more concentrated networks — Eutelsat in Europe and Arabsat in Arab countries. The telecom ministry plans to consult security forces and the consulting committee when the discussions reach the stage of formal negotiations. Environment, culture, and firefighters As for administrative appointments scheduled on the agenda, the executive approved the renewal of Rony Lahoud's term as head of the Public Housing Agency — a body distinct from Banque de l'Habitat, tasked with facilitating home ownership for low-income families. Its capacity to accept new applications has been halted since Lebanon's crisis. Lahoud has held the position since 2014. The government also approved the makeup of the board of directors. Hani Shaarani serves as chair, with Hani Shamaa, Gaby Khouryati, Bassim Bkhash, Joumana Tadmori and Leila Shahoud as members. The government also approved a draft decree presented by the Environment Ministry to ratify the Arab Environment Facility, a regional body established by members of the Arab League to finance and support environmental projects. Lebanon is among the countries that have already signed onto this mechanism, ratified at the ministerial level by the Arab League in September 2008, but the ratification process in Lebanon has been underway since 2011. Few Arab League countries have ratified this treaty to date. The government also approved a memorandum of understanding between Lebanon's National Library and the National Library of Spain, submitted by Culture Minister Ghassan Salameh. Few details were provided, but such agreements typically involve collection exchanges or digitization projects in practice. The government also approved an agreement between the Civil Service Council, the International Organization of La Francophonie, and the French Institute of Lebanon to improve the French-language skills of some Lebanese civil servants. Finally, the Cabinet approved a competitive exam to be launched by the Ministry of Public Works and Transport for the recruitment of 25 officers for the fire brigade of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, to fill vacant positions with the fire brigade operating at Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport.
Time of India
05-08-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Canada's Telesat sees strong business potential in India's aviation, maritime sectors
NEW DELHI: Canada-based firm Telesat sees strong business potential in the aviation and maritime sectors in India. 'Unlike the direct-to-consumer model, Telesat's services are primarily focused on enabling connectivity for telecom operators in India. We also see strong business potential in serving the aviation and maritime sectors, where demand for reliable, high-speed satellite connectivity continues to grow,' Laura Roberti , director for spectrum & market access, Telesat, told ETSatcom . The main business potential for Telesat will be service provision to telecom operators in India, apart from aviation and maritime services, she added. 'We are developing a new LEO (low-Earth orbit) system, Telesat Lightspeed , with satellite launches scheduled to begin in 2026 and full global service expected by the end of 2027,' she said. The Ottawa-headquartered satcom company had said in 2016 it would foray into the LEO segment. Once completed, its fleet would comprise 198 satellites in polar and inclined orbits. Globally, the company has already signed various deals with service providers such as Arabsat, Orange, Viasat , and Vocus . In 2020, Telesat partnered with the Tata group company Nelco to collaborate on areas such as terrestrial facilities, commercial distribution and regulatory frameworks. The Mumbai-based company, as a part of the arrangement, would offer Telesat LEO satellite services with superior enterprise connectivity in India, ETTelecom had reported earlier. When asked about synergies between terrestrial and satellite communication services, Roberti said, satellite services are meant to complement and not replace terrestrial mobile services. ' 'All of us own a terrestrial mobile phone but I don't own a satellite terminal, nor do I intend to buy one. The point is that wherever terrestrial infrastructure cannot reach, satellite connectivity can step in —whether for aviation, maritime markets or remote, unserved areas on land,' she noted. There is also a strong potential for synergy with terrestrial mobile operators, as new satellite systems, particularly low-Earth orbit (LEO) constellations, can provide backhaul connectivity which will help mobile operators extend coverage to sparsely populated regions where the high cost of terrestrial infrastructure cannot be justified, she said. India has made significant progress in recent years on the regulatory front, particularly in streamlining the framework to enable access to satellite services. However, certain issues remain unresolved, most notably, the final decision on spectrum allocation, Roberti said when asked about the Indian market's ecosystem compared to global markets. This matter has been under discussion for many months for various reasons. 'With a clear recommendation now from TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India), our hope as Telesat and more broadly, as the satellite industry is that this recommendation is implemented swiftly, enabling a final decision so the sector can move forward,' she added. Watch the full conversation here: ETTelecom Interviews: Telesat's Laura Roberti on India satcom market, demand for satellite broadband
Broadcast Pro
16-06-2025
- Business
- Broadcast Pro
Grass Valley scales up with software and IP workflows
With a growing footprint across the Middle East, Grass Valley is navigating the challenges and opportunities of a broadcast market in transition. In an exclusive interview with BroadcastPro ME, GV's VP of Sales for EMEA, Mark Gardner, discusses how evolving needs in the Middle East are shaping the company's regional strategy. What kind of momentum are you seeing for Grass Valley across the Middle East? We're continuing to see strong growth in our traditional products such as cameras, switchers and IP solutions. However, what's especially exciting is the growth in our software offerings. At last year's CABSAT, we announced a new partnership with Arabsat to provide our cloud playout software, Playout X, as a managed service. This year Arabsat showcased it at their booth, and we're thrilled to welcome new customers to the platform through this partnership. We're also seeing increasing interest in remote production for sports coverage. Technologies we've been successfully deploying in mainland Europe, particularly in the Netherlands and the UK, are now beginning to gain traction in the Middle East. Can you share any customer use cases in the region? We worked closely with NEP on their new IP trucks for the Middle East, supplying cameras and switchers, which were showcased at CABSAT. This collaboration also included our new shallow-depth-of-field camera, the LDX 180, a single large-sensor model that delivers a cinematic look for sports. Although the camera's official release is scheduled for IBC, NEP provided a regional sneak preview. This highlights the strength of our partnership. What stands out is how this technology allows broadcasters to achieve cinematic storytelling without added operational complexity. NEP was able to connect the camera to their system just like any other, integrating it into their existing live workflow. The result is the ability to tell more creative stories while maintaining a streamlined and more efficient production process. You've been discussing AMPP for some time. Has that translated into real-world applications? It's more than a POC now. For example, AMPP is being used across all Saudi Pro League games. They are using it for ingest and then using FrameLight X, our production asset management system, for highlight cuts. This relationship continues to grow, and we are helping them explore additional ways to use AMPP, particularly in cloud and remote production workflows. Given the breadth of your portfolio, where are you seeing the most traction? Last year we saw significant growth in cameras and switchers, but one of our key areas of focus is software products. Playout for example is an area where we see strong potential in the region. We're currently working with several customers on tests and proof-of-concept projects for both on-premises and cloud deployments. One of the strengths of our product line is its flexibility. You can deploy on-premises using COTS servers or in cloud environments such as AWS, Google Cloud, Oracle Cloud, Alibaba or whichever platform best suits your business needs. What overarching message did you bring to CABSAT this year? It's the Grass Valley Media Universe, bringing all of our existing hardware products into the AMPP ecosystem. It's a true platform approach, with the entire product range connected. We're also making sure customers understand that it's an open ecosystem. Third-party vendors are encouraged to join the system and benefit from the platform approach. In addition, we've been working on the Media Exchange Layer (MXL). This is an EBU initiative, and Grass Valley has been a strong supporter. It enables the exchange of video and audio flows on a CPU-based platform. We expect to make the SDK available to customers in the coming months, giving them confidence that the platforms will remain open and that interoperability is built in. What are the biggest challenges right now from a sales standpoint? The breadth of our portfolio is always a challenge. We're selling software products, solutions that can be deployed on-premises or in cloud environments, and more traditional hardware products. We offer a lot of choice to customers, and while they benefit from that flexibility, they also want a clear understanding of where things are headed. Cloud may be ideal for one customer, while another may benefit more from an on-premises deployment. For example, we spoke with a few customers in Saudi Arabia who feel that connectivity charges are still too high, making cloud less viable for them at the moment. In other parts of the region, however, customers may see the benefits of cloud and be ready to adopt it. We're working to tailor our message to each individual market. It's a mistake to treat the Gulf as a single homogenous market. Each country is unique, with its own specific needs and conditions. Where will Grass Valley focus its efforts next? Interoperability remains a top priority for us. We are actively involved in initiatives like the Media Exchange Layer (MXL) and are accelerating our efforts in this area. Our goal is to ensure that customers can seamlessly integrate our solutions with other software environments. We understand that customers make long-term investments and need confidence that their systems will stay flexible and future-proof. By supporting open standards and speeding up development in areas like MXL, we are helping customers achieve the security and adaptability they need.
Broadcast Pro
21-05-2025
- Business
- Broadcast Pro
Arabsat selects Telesat Lightspeed LEO services
The companied signed a Term Sheet for a multi-Gb/s capacity pool of Telesat Lightspeed connectivity services. Telesat and Arab Satellite Communications Organisation (Arabsat), a satellite service provider in the Arab world, have negotiated and signed a Term Sheet for a multi-Gbps capacity pool of Telesat Lightspeed connectivity services. Building on the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in 2024, this agreement establishes the negotiated framework for Arabsats integration of Telesat Lightspeed LEO services, backed by Committed Information Rates (CIRs) and Service Level Agreements (SLAs), into its multi-orbit satellite ecosystem, ensuring robust and seamless broadband connectivity solutions tailored for enterprise, telecom, government and mobility sectors. The parties expect to conclude definitive agreements by December 2025. Commenting on the agreement, Dan Goldberg, Telesats President and CEO, said: 'Were excited to achieve this important milestone in our strategic partnership with Arabsat, a premier satellite operator, which will bring innovative connectivity advancements to their customers across the Middle East, Africa, Europe and Central Asia. In addition to the inherent security and reliability features of Telesat Lightspeed, Arabsat will have unprecedented flexibility to design, manage and control services to their customers, through Telesats interoperable lifecycle orchestration systems.' President and CEO Alhamedi Alanezi added: 'This agreement with Telesat marks a major milestone in Arabsats multi-orbit strategy and the advanced Telesat Lightspeed network will offer innovative capabilities to our customers in each of the markets we serve. By offering LEO and GEO service, as well as blended combinations, we are laying the foundation for a new era of connectivity. Multi-orbit satellite systems and terminals will position the Arabsat Group at the forefront of digital transformation delivering faster, more reliable, and cost-effective connectivity tailored to the distinct performance needs of each industry.
Broadcast Pro
17-05-2025
- Business
- Broadcast Pro
Quadsat and Arabsat sign MoU on spectrum and antennas
As part of the collaboration, Quadsat will create dedicated test and measurement protocols tailored specifically for Arabsat, along with a standard test report format, enhancing both consistency and reliability in antenna performance verification. Quadsat, a provider of UAV-based antenna testing and RF measurement solutions, has entered into a strategic partnership with Arabsat, the satellite operator in the MENA region. The two companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at CABSAT 2025, outlining plans to collaborate on advanced spectrum management and antenna qualification technologies. The partnership aims to define clear protocols for selecting antenna vendors that meet Arabsats stringent performance standards, validate new antenna installations, and maintain and calibrate existing ground infrastructure. It will also support the detection and geolocation of unauthorised or interfering signals across Arabsats satellite fleet. With the satellite communications environment becoming increasingly complex, Arabsat sees this agreement as a critical step in ensuring optimal performance of its network. The operator intends to use Quadsats innovative testing solutions to evaluate flat panel antennas for multi-orbit operations and develop a data-driven system for vendor assessment. The collaboration will help Arabsat maintain the integrity and reliability of its services by streamlining antenna testing and promptly identifying sources of interference. Alsuwaidan, Senior Vice President & Chief Technical Officer, Arabsat, commented: 'As the satellite environment becomes more and more complex, it is increasingly important for us, as operators, to ensure maximum performance from the equipment across our network. By partnering with Quadsat, we are able to conduct advanced measurements and simulation validation for Flat Panel Antennas for multi-orbit, create a data-driven vendor selection and evaluation process, as well as being able to easily and efficiently identify unwanted signals on our satellites. This will help us to continue delivering a world-class performance for our customers.' Joakim Espeland, CEO, Quadsat, added: 'Arabsats commitment to this MoU is testament to its mission to deliver reliable and high-quality satellite capacity to a diverse customer base. With this partnership, we are making it easier for Arabsats customers to perform standardised test and qualification procedures, making it quicker for them to get online, whilst helping to ensure the network remains error-free.' As part of this partnership, Quadsat will develop a specific Arabsat test and measurement procedure, as well as a standard Arabsat test report format to ensure repeatability and good transparency in the antenna performance parameters that are most essential to Arabsat.
