Arabsat and etisalat by e& have agreed to launch a new direct-to-home (DTH) television bouquet on the BADR-8 satellite at 26.0° East, introducing a shared distribution model designed to reduce satellite transmission costs for broadcasters.
The new platform will be uplinked through etisalat’s TAS earth station in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, providing a managed satellite distribution arrangement for multiple television channels.
Rather than requiring individual broadcasters to negotiate and pay for separate transponder capacity, the arrangement allows several smaller channels to operate within a shared platform. This approach enables participating broadcasters to distribute their services while sharing the infrastructure and associated transmission costs.
Arabsat Chief Commercial Officer Saud M. Almadhi highlighted the economic advantages of the shared-capacity model, noting the potential to provide broadcasters with more affordable satellite distribution alongside additional services that can be integrated into the platform.
Strategic Importance Of The 26° East Satellite Position
The BADR-8 satellite’s orbital position at 26.0° East is particularly significant for television distribution across North Africa, where it serves an established direct-to-home broadcasting market covering Arabic-language audiences, including those in the Maghreb and Egypt.
By offering a shared distribution platform, Arabsat and etisalat could lower the financial barriers for smaller broadcasters seeking satellite coverage across these markets. The model provides an alternative to the higher individual capacity commitments traditionally associated with satellite distribution.
For broadcasters operating in emerging and cost-sensitive markets, shared satellite infrastructure could offer opportunities to expand geographical reach while managing transmission expenditure.
Although the announcement does not identify specific African countries, broadcasters, channels or teleport facilities participating in the arrangement, the satellite’s established North African footprint gives the development wider regional relevance.
The initiative is therefore a regional satellite distribution development rather than a confirmed African broadcasting partnership. Its potential significance for African broadcasters will depend on the availability of the platform to additional channels and the commercial terms offered to prospective participants.
As satellite operators and broadcasters continue to explore more cost-effective distribution models, shared-capacity arrangements could provide an alternative route for smaller television services seeking wider audience coverage without the expense of securing dedicated satellite capacity.
