[Satellite News 10-28-09] Middle East satellite operator SmartSat, a joint venture between Jordanian private shareholder company Smartlink and Kuwaiti investors, is likely to partner with a major FSS operator to share the costs of building its first satellite, Khaled Derbas, SmartSat’s managing director and chairman told Satellite News.
    While it is not guaranteed that SmartSat will definitely have a strategic partner, Derbas said the company is in talks with one of three major FSS operators and that offers have been made.  “The possibilities of a partnership came up at Cabsat. We have continued discussions to see what the offers are and how we can work it out together. We have asked the operators to give us some proposals to see how we can work it. Each one has given us a presentation, and an offer for us, and now, we are studying these offers,” he said.
    According to Derbas, SmartSat sees clear advantages in accepting what FSS operators have to offer. “We will benefit from the experience of the technical partner. It is better to have their marketing and technical experience. It will be a shortcut for us to reach what is needed to the market and sell it in the easiest way. We have decided to have a partner. They will save a lot of time and money for us.”
    Despite the advantages that an FSS partner would provide, Derbas said his company will proceed with its first satellite project, which aims to provide services to ISPs, GSM providers, and a variety of government and broadcast customers, regardless of its decision and that it is leaving all options open.
    “We will make a decision about a potential FSS partnership in November,” said Derbas.
    SmartSat is not only looking to team up with another satellite operator, but, according to Derbas, the company is planning to work with manufacturers in order to launch a bigger satellite than originally planned. “There have been technical changes in the specification of the satellite we will go with. We are now going with a much bigger satellite. In April, we had planned on a satellite with 54 transponders. Now, I think we might go for a satellite with more than 70 transponders. It will still be a triple band (Ku/Ka/C) satellite,” he said.
    SmartSat will take on most of the costs for the satellite and is in negotiations with its potential manufacturers, Thales Alenia Space, Space Systems/Loral (SS/L) and Orbital Sciences, on how to split the bill. “It will not be 50/50. We are still working this out. We will be paying for the majority of the satellite,” Derbas said, adding that its manufacturing partner would be announced in early December.
    Going to a bigger satellite will be easier with an FSS partner, according to Derbas. “As we are speaking to satellite operators about being part of this project, they have been suggesting to go with a bigger satellite, as it will give us a chance to provide the area with full capacity required. That capacity will then be divided between the two companies,” he said.