Es'hailSat
Es'hailSat (Qatar Satellite Company) is Qatar's national satellite operator, running two geostationary satellites (Es'hail-1 and Es'hail-2) at 25.5°E and 26°E to provide DTH television broadcasting, VSAT, maritime, and teleport services to broadcasters, governments, and enterprises across the MENA region.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersDoha, Qatar
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Es'hailSat does
Es'hailSat (legal name: Qatar Satellite Company) is Qatar's first and national satellite operator, established in 2010 through a strategic partnership between ictQatar and Eutelsat. The company operates two geostationary communications satellites — Es'hail-1 (launched August 2013 at 25.5° East) and Es'hail-2 (launched November 2018 at 26° East) — providing Ku-band and Ka-band coverage across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Es'hailSat holds a Public Satellite Telecommunications Networks and Services License from ictQatar and contributes to Qatar's National Vision 2030 by serving strategic stakeholders that value broadcasting and communications independence, quality service, and wide geographical coverage.
The core product portfolio combines Direct-To-Home (DTH) television broadcasting, VSAT data communications, maritime and mobility connectivity, and a state-of-the-art teleport facility in Doha (Al Ghuwayriyah site) offering TT&C support, up-linking, reception, iDirect Hub Service, DSNG, and OBVAN capabilities. The teleport is World Teleport Association (WTA) Tier 4 certified and holds ISO/IEC 20000-1:2018, ISO 27001:2013, and ISO 45001:2018 certifications. The company supports 60+ TV channels on its orbital slots, including beIN Sports, Al Jazeera, Qatar TV, Al Kass, Rotana, and Al Araby TV.
Es'hailSat generates revenue primarily through long-term subscription-style transponder capacity leases to broadcasters, telecom operators, and enterprises, supplemented by managed teleport services and VSAT subscriptions. Go-to-market combines direct enterprise sales to broadcasters, governments, and large enterprises with a regional reseller and channel-partner network across MENA (including Total TR Medya, DiTVe, Citrus TV, Al Awsat, Ooredoo, Marlink, Viasat, and Jordan Media City). Customers span three verticals: broadcasters and media companies (primary), enterprise and government, and maritime/energy sector customers. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed.
Es'hailSat firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Es'hailSat
- Legal name
- Qatar Satellite Company (Es'hailSat)
- Website
- https://eshailsat.qa
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Es'hailSat (Qatar Satellite Company) is Qatar's national satellite operator, running two geostationary satellites (Es'hail-1 and Es'hail-2) at 25.5°E and 26°E to provide DTH television broadcasting, VSAT, maritime, and teleport services to broadcasters, governments, and enterprises across the MENA region.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Es'hailSat industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Satellite Communications
- NAICS
- Satellite Telecommunications (51741), Satellite Telecommunications (5174), Satellite Telecommunications (517410)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Satellite Network Operations & Capacity Services (NOC, Capacity Leasing, Managed Payload Services) (HDAIAJAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Satellite Video & Media Distribution (DTH, Contribution/Distribution, Occasional Use) (HDAIAJAG), Satellite Wholesale Capacity & Backhaul (transponder/HTS capacity, teleport services) (HDAIAEAJ), Satellite Broadband Terminals & Gateways (VSAT/LEO CPE) (HDAFAIAM)
Keywords
Where Es'hailSat is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Doha
- HQ country
- Qatar
- HQ region
- Middle East
Offices2 records
Markets served
Es'hailSat business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Satellite Transponder Capacity: Leasing of transponder capacity on Es'hail-1 and Es'hail-2 satellites for broadcasting and communications services. Revenue generated through long-term capacity contracts with broadcasters, telecom operators, and enterprise customers.
- Teleport Services: Managed teleport services including TT&C support, up-linking, reception facilities, and iDirect Hub Service. Fully managed service packages offered to end users.
- VSAT Services: Ka-band and Ku-band VSAT terminals and connectivity services for enterprise, maritime, and energy sector customers.
- Video Contribution Services: Broadcast contribution services, DSNG (Digital Satellite News Gathering), and OBVAN (Outdoor Broadcast Van) services.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
Es'hailSat product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Es'hailSat is Qatar's national satellite operator, operating two geostationary communications satellites (Es'hail-1 at 25.5° East and Es'hail-2 at 26° East) that deliver Direct-To-Home (DTH) television broadcasting, VSAT data communications, teleport services, and maritime/mobility connectivity across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The company also operates a WTA Tier 4 certified teleport facility in Doha providing TT&C support, up-linking, reception, and fully managed services including iDirect Hub Service.
Product overview
Es'hailSat is Qatar's national satellite operator providing a integrated satellite communications portfolio centered around two geostationary communications satellites (Es'hail-1 at 25.5° East and Es'hail-2 at 26° East). The core offering combines Direct-To-Home (DTH) television broadcasting services with satellite data connectivity solutions including VSAT and maritime connectivity. Supporting infrastructure includes a WTA Tier 4 certified teleport facility in Doha offering managed services, uplink/playout capabilities, and satellite news gathering (SNG) services. The satellite fleet operates across Ku-band and Ka-band frequencies covering the MENA region with 99.9% uptime commitment.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Es'hail-1 Satellite Qatar's first geostationary communications satellite positioned at 25.5° East orbital slot, providing Direct-To-Home (DTH) television broadcasting, mobility, and telecommunication services across the Middle East and North Africa region.
- Es'hail-2 Satellite Second geostationary communications satellite positioned at 26° East orbital slot, providing Ku-band and Ka-band payload capacity for premium DTH television, mobility services, and data communications across the MENA region.
- Direct-To-Home (DTH) Television Broadcasting Services Satellite television broadcasting services enabling content distribution to millions of households across the MENA region, supporting both SD and HD channels with 99.9% uptime SLA.
- VSAT Services Satellite-based data communication services providing VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) connectivity for enterprise, government, and maritime applications across wide geographical coverage areas.
- Maritime Connectivity Services Offshore and maritime satellite connectivity solutions for vessels operating in the Gulf region and broader MENA waters, including VSAT terminals and flat panel antenna solutions.
- Teleport Services State-of-the-art teleport facility in Doha providing TT&C support, up-linking, playout services, and reception facilities. WTA Tier 4 certified facility at Al Ghuwayriyah site offering fully managed service packages including iDirect Hub Service.
- Satellite News Gathering (SNG) and Video Contribution Services Mobile satellite news gathering services including Digital Satellite News Gathering (DSNG) and Outdoor Broadcast Van (OBVAN) capabilities for live news coverage and event broadcasting, enabling live transmission and content exchange between studios, venues, and distribution points.
Quantifiable outcome
- 99.9% uptime SLA for satellite broadcasting
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Es'hailSat
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Es'hailSat technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Es'hailSat partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
17 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.
- ViasatcoreExpansion agreement with Viasat for multi-transponder bandwidth on Es'hail-1 and Teleport services.
- NilesatcoreMoU with Nilesat for co-operation on satellite services across MENA region.
- TMCminorPartnership agreement with TMC for Digital Satellite News Gathering (DSNG) and Outdoor Broadcast Van (OBVAN) services in Qatar.
- MarlinkminorContract with Marlink for capacities on Es'hail-1 to be used for VSAT in Egypt.
- RigNet (ViaSat)corePartnership with RigNet (ViaSat) for Energy services in the Gulf region.
- Axess NetworksminorPartnership with Axess Networks to expand reach across the region.
- Zener MarineminorPartnership for VSAT Support Services in maritime environment.
- InmarsatcorePartnership agreement with Inmarsat for satellite voice and data connectivity services in the region.
- OoredoocoreAgreement with Ooredoo to develop a wide range of new VSAT services for enterprise customers.
- MELCO (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)coreMELCO selected to build Es'hail-2, Qatar's second communications satellite.
- SpaceXcoreSpaceX selected to launch Es'hail-2 from Cape Canaveral. Successfully launched on November 15, 2018 on Falcon 9 rocket.
- iSat NetworksminoriSat Networks delivered VSAT terminals to begin commercializing Ka-band payload on Es'hail-1.
- ArianespacecoreArianespace was selected to launch Es'hail-1 from the French Guiana Spaceport. Successfully launched on August 29, 2013.
- ArabsatcoreStrategic agreement to expand opportunities at 26° East TV hotspot neighborhood for TV broadcasting collaboration.
- Al Jazeera NetworksflagshipStrategic MOU with Al Jazeera Networks for provision of strategic satellite infrastructure. Al Jazeera is a major customer broadcasting on Es'hail satellites.
- ictQatar and EutelsatflagshipStrategic partnership between ictQatar and Eutelsat to invest in and operate a high-capacity satellite at 25.5° East, providing Qatar with independent satellite coverage and connectivity for MENA region. This partnership led to the creation of Es'hailSat.
- SSL (Space Systems Loral)coreSSL was selected to build Es'hail-1 based on their 1300 satellite bus platform. SSL also provided an intensive two-year satellite engineering program to train four Qatari engineers as the country's first satellite operations engineers.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Es'hailSat competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- SES: Global satellite operator with extensive GEO and O3b mPOWER MEO capacity serving broadcast, enterprise, and government customers worldwide. Provides benchmark for managed-services, teleport, and enterprise-vs-broadcast revenue split relevant to Es'hailSat's evolution.
- Eutelsat: One of the world's largest satellite operators and Es'hailSat's founding strategic partner via the 25.5° East joint investment. Operates a global fleet serving MENA among other regions; provides strategic and capacity benchmarking for Es'hailSat's commercial trajectory.
- Viasat: Global satellite communications company with GEO and LEO capacity serving consumer broadband, enterprise, energy, and government markets. Active partner of Es'hailSat via multi-transponder and energy-services agreements; relevant benchmark for enterprise/energy/maritime expansion.
Direct peers
- Nilesat: Egypt-based satellite operator providing DTH broadcasting and data services across MENA and North Africa. Direct peer for TV hotspot capacity serving the same broadcaster customer base as Es'hailSat; MoU partner for cross-MENA cooperation.
- Yahsat: UAE-based satellite operator with a multi-satellite fleet serving MENA, Africa, and beyond across broadcasting, government, and mobility verticals. Closely comparable in regional positioning, state affiliation, and broadcast-plus-enterprise mix.
- Inmarsat (Viasat): Global mobile satellite services operator focused on maritime, aviation, and government connectivity. Direct partner of Es'hailSat for satellite voice and data services in MENA; highly relevant as Es'hailSat expands into maritime and mobility VSAT.
- Arabsat: Arab Satellite Communications Organization is the leading MENA-region satellite operator with a larger fleet serving broadcast, telecom, and data customers. Directly comparable to Es'hailSat in DTH broadcasting across the Arab world and a formal cooperation partner via the 26° East strategic agreement.
Regional players
- Hellas Sat: Regional satellite operator serving Greece, Cyprus, and broader EMEA with DTH and telecom capacity. Comparable as a smaller, regionally-focused operator with overlapping MENA footprint and broadcast emphasis.
- Azercosmos: Azerbaijan's national satellite operator offering DTH, telecom, and VSAT services across the Caucasus, MENA, and Central Asia. Comparable as a state-owned regional satellite operator serving overlapping broadcast and enterprise verticals.
- Turksat: Turkey's national satellite operator providing DTH broadcasting and telecom services across Turkey, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. Comparable in state-owned structure and regional broadcast focus, though primarily serving Turkish-language markets.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Es'hailSat social profiles
Digital presenceEs'hailSat compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
Es'hailSat financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Es'hailSat leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Es'hailSat funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Es'hailSat M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Es'hailSat
What does Es'hailSat do?
Es'hailSat is Qatar's national satellite operator, operating two geostationary communications satellites (Es'hail-1 at 25.5° East and Es'hail-2 at 26° East) that deliver Direct-To-Home (DTH) television broadcasting, VSAT data communications, teleport services, and maritime/mobility connectivity across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The company also operates a WTA Tier 4 certified teleport facility in Doha providing TT&C support, up-linking, reception, and fully managed services including iDirect Hub Service.
Is Es'hailSat a public or private company?
Es'hailSat is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Es'hailSat founded?
Es'hailSat was founded in 2010. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Es'hailSat based?
Es'hailSat is headquartered in Doha, Qatar, in the Middle East region.
How does Es'hailSat make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Satellite Transponder Capacity is the primary driver. The others are teleport Services, VSAT Services and video Contribution Services.
Who are Es'hailSat's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are SES, Eutelsat and Viasat. Direct peers are Nilesat, Yahsat, Inmarsat (Viasat) and Arabsat. Regional players are Hellas Sat, Azercosmos and Turksat.
Does Es'hailSat have an API?
No public API is recorded for Es'hailSat.
What industry is Es'hailSat in?
Es'hailSat's product category is Satellite Communications. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAIAJAI, Satellite Network Operations & Capacity Services (NOC, Capacity Leasing, Managed Payload Services), with a secondary code of HDAIAJAG, Satellite Video & Media Distribution (DTH, Contribution/Distribution, Occasional Use). Its NAICS code is 51741.