Arabsat and Thales announce software-defined satellite plans

摘要

Arabsat, a leading regional satellite operator in the Middle East and Africa, and satcoms solutions provider Thales Alenia Space have signed a contract to build Arabsat-7A, a fully flexible software-defined satellite (SDS) based on the Space Inspire (INstant SPace In-orbit REconfiguration) platform by Thales Alenia Space. Arabsat says it has now joined the transition from traditional bent-pipe GEO satellites to the highly agile and adaptable SDSs which, it says, are expected to change the face of the geostationary satcom industry.