Egyptian satellite operator Nilesat has partnered with SpaceX for the launch of the Nilesat-301 geostationary communications satellite in 2022.
A contract was sealed between Nilesat and SpaceX in Cairo on January 21 and this is the first cooperation between the two companies.
Last year, Thales Alenia Space won and signed a contract with Nilesat to build Nilesat-301.The satellite is based on the Spacebus 4000-B2 platform and will weigh about four metric tons at launch. Nilesat-301 offers a design life exceeding 15 years.
Nilesat-301 will help extend the company’s provision of Ku-band communications and direct digital broadcasting services in two new large regions of Africa, while also providing broadband Ka-band connectivity over all of Egypt.