MBSAT signs deal for 2027 services launch

MUSCAT: Mohammed Al Barwani Satellites Company (MBSAT) has signed an agreement with ST Engineering iDirect to build the ground infrastructure for satellite communications services it plans to launch in Oman and the wider region in 2027.
The agreement covers gateway infrastructure, network operating systems and management tools for a network targeting government entities, telecommunications operators, businesses and critical infrastructure sectors.
MBSAT, part of Mohammed Al Barwani Group, will use ST Engineering iDirect’s Intuition platform to operate the network and manage satellite capacity.
The network will use communications capacity from MBSAT-1, a MicroGEO geostationary satellite built by Astranis, according to the announcement.
The project combines satellite infrastructure with a software-defined ground system intended to allow MBSAT to adjust capacity and expand services as customer demand changes.
The agreement was signed in the presence of Dr Mohammed al Barwani, Chairman of Mohammed Al Barwani Group, and coincided with the state visit of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik to the United Kingdom.
Under the agreement, ST Engineering iDirect will supply Ka-band gateway infrastructure, the Intuition baseband system and the Foresight network management platform.
It will also provide service provisioning and management tools, open application programming interfaces to connect with other systems, and training and technical support throughout the platform’s lifecycle.
“This partnership represents an important milestone in our efforts to build an advanced satellite communications platform in Oman and the region,” said Ammara l Rawahi, General Manager of MBSAT.
“Through our collaboration with ST Engineering iDirect, we are establishing the technical infrastructure required to launch services efficiently, respond to evolving customer needs and expand into new markets, supporting the sustainable long-term growth of our business.”
The companies said Intuition’s cloud-based architecture would allow satellite resources to be allocated and redistributed according to demand, helping improve capacity utilisation and simplify the introduction of services.
Foresight will provide network management and operational automation tools intended to improve efficiency and support expansion as demand grows.
“We are providing MBSAT with a flexible, software-defined ground platform that integrates with its existing operational environment,” said Sridhar Kuppanna, Chief Executive Officer of ST Engineering iDirect.
“This enables more efficient service deployment and operations today, with the flexibility to scale, introduce new capabilities and evolve as requirements change.”
MBSAT said the project formed part of its strategy to develop satellite communications infrastructure under national control, strengthen Oman’s space-sector capabilities and expand connectivity for domestic and regional customers.
The announcement linked the agreement to growing regional demand for nationally controlled communications infrastructure and systems that allow operators to manage capacity and introduce services more flexibly.