Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu announced that a significant strategic cooperation agreement has been signed between Turkey and Qatar in the field of space technologies. Under the agreement with Qatar-based satellite operator Es'hailSat, a new-generation communications satellite named Türksat-Biruni will be added to the Türksat fleet.
In a written statement, Minister Uraloğlu noted that the satellite, named by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, will be positioned at the 50 degrees East orbital slot. The project, to be implemented with Qatari financing, aims to enhance the two countries' effectiveness in space.
Capacity and competitiveness to increase
Uraloğlu stated, 'Thanks to the strategic partnership we have established with Qatar, we are adding a high-data-capacity new-generation satellite to our Türksat fleet. With this project, we are not only expanding our fleet but also strengthening our country's presence in space and its competitive edge in the global satellite market.'
The minister emphasized that the satellite, which will be equipped with Ka-band technology, will significantly boost Türksat's service capacity. He added that, within the project, the two companies' satellite assets, ground infrastructure, distribution networks, and customer portfolios will be jointly utilized.
Turkey's strategic rights are preserved
Underlining that the project is being carried out while preserving Turkey's strategic rights, Uraloğlu said, 'Our frequency and orbital rights at the 50 degrees East orbital slot will continue to be protected. The satellite, to be produced by Es'hailSat, will be registered with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) under the name of Türksat. In this way, we will both secure our existing rights and add a new-generation satellite to our fleet.'
Extensive services to Middle East and Africa
Uraloğlu noted that the satellite's coverage area will be very extensive, including the Middle East, North Africa, Europe, Central Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa. 'By combining Türksat's technical infrastructure with Es'hailSat's regional strength, we will achieve new opportunities on a global scale,' he assessed.
Minister Uraloğlu also stated that the new satellite will provide robust solutions in areas such as high-capacity broadband internet, aviation and maritime mobility services, public institutions' communication needs, and corporate data communications. He added that the project will elevate the strategic cooperation between Turkey and Qatar to a higher level in the field of space technologies.
