Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu announced that under the strategic partnership signed with Qatar-based satellite operator Es'hailSat, a next-generation communications satellite named Türksat-Biruni will be added to the Türksat fleet.
In his written statement, Minister Uraloğlu noted that the satellite, named by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, will operate in the 50 degrees East orbital slot.
Capacity expansion with new satellite
Uraloğlu said, "Thanks to the strategic partnership we have established with Qatar, we are adding a high-capacity next-generation satellite to the Türksat fleet. With this project, we are not only growing our fleet but also enhancing our country's space footprint and competitiveness in the global satellite market."
Uraloğlu stressed that the satellite, equipped with Ka-band technology, will significantly boost Türksat's service capacity. He added that under the project financed by Qatar, the two companies will jointly leverage their satellite assets, ground infrastructure, distribution networks, and customer portfolios.
Strategic rights safeguarded
Underscoring that the project is being carried out while safeguarding Turkey's strategic rights, Minister Uraloğlu said, "Our frequency and orbital rights at the 50 degrees East position will continue to be preserved. The satellite to be produced by Es'hailSat will be registered in the name of Türksat with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Thus, we will both secure our existing rights and add a next-generation satellite to our fleet."
Broad service coverage
Uraloğlu stated that the satellite will serve the Middle East, North Africa, Europe, Central Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa, adding, "By combining TÜRKSAT's technical infrastructure with Es'hailSat's regional strength, we will seize new opportunities on a global scale."
Noting that the new satellite will offer robust solutions in areas such as high-capacity broadband internet, aviation and maritime mobility services, the communication needs of public institutions, and corporate data communications, Minister Uraloğlu added that the project will elevate the strategic cooperation between Turkey and Qatar to a higher level in the field of space technologies.
